NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 3
Chapter 3
The news that the lowest-ranked Demon King, Seere von Debata, had acquired a teacher was of little concern to some, but for others, it was quite interesting.
In particular, for other Demon Kings with low ranks like Seere, it was news that commanded a fair bit of attention.
“That kid has gotten a teacher?”
“Yes.”
In a steaming bathroom filled with dense fog, there was a breathtakingly attractive woman with disheveled blonde hair and a curvaceous figure. While soaking in the bath and tending to her nails, she expressed her curiosity.
“Which idle fool took on that task?”
“It’s someone named Nahun.”
“…Nahun?”
She repeated the name, pondering it briefly before speaking curtly.
“I’ve never heard of that name before.”
“I looked into it, but nothing came up. It’s a suspicious individual.”
“Hmm.”
A drop of water fell, and when the magnificent body hidden beneath the water became fully visible, her subordinate slightly averted their gaze.
“Send a letter.”
With a splash, the woman stepped out of the bath. Lightly drying her hair with a towel prepared by her attendant, she spoke softly.
“I’ll drop by soon.”
#
In the office assigned to Nahun, who had become the teacher of the Demon King, Seere, were Nahun, Cain, and Seere, who was holding a white stuffed toy. Seere was watching Nahun as he wrote in the training journal.
Cain felt a slight unease as he observed Nahun.
While they were grateful that he had become the master’s teacher, he also held the financial authority of the Demon King Castle?
‘Could he have some ulterior motive…?’
It was a situation where such thoughts could easily arise. After all, the power of money is a potent force in any circumstance.
While Cain was lost in his thoughts, Nahun called out to Seere.
“Seere.”
“Y-yes!”
“Come here and take a look at this.”
Nahun handed the training journal to Seere. Seere blinked and looked at what Nahun had written.
“Teacher, is this all to be done in one day?”
“Yes. Does it seem like a lot?”
“A little, yes.”
“Should I cut a few out then?”
Nahun smiled and erased a few items. He had deliberately written a lot to allow her to adjust her training volume herself.
However, there was a minimum threshold he had to maintain in his heart. Based on his experience with numerous endings, there was a necessary minimum training amount for Seere to grow according to the optimal strategy he had created.
“You can do this, can’t you?”
Nodding.
As Seere nodded, Nahun smiled and gently ruffled her hair.
“If you do well and don’t miss a week, I’ll buy you a big doll.”
“Really?”
“Of course, really.”
Nahun told Seere.
“That’s enough for today. We’re starting classes from tomorrow, so you should sleep early tonight.”
“Yes.”
Nodding.
Seere’s response was the quintessential behavior of a young child, hard to associate with a Demon King.
“Cain, I have something to discuss with you, so go and rest in your room first.”
“Yes.”
Seere clutched her teddy bear and dashed to the door. When Cain opened it for her, she bowed her head once to Nahun and then to Cain before exiting the room.
“…So cute, very much.”
“She’s still young. By the way, Lord.”
“Just call me by my name.”
“Then, Nahun, may I ask something?”
“What is it?”
Cain cautiously asked Nahun.
“When you asked for financial authority, you mentioned something about making money.”
“That’s right.”
“But you haven’t shared any plans with us so far. How do you intend to gather funds?”
“Oh, that.”
Nahun smiled enigmatically. He spoke confidently.
“Just sit back and wait for now.”
“Excuse me?”
“Trust me and wait.”
Nahun chuckled to himself for reasons unknown.
“A mountain of gold will roll in.”
Cain felt slightly flustered. He had expected some sort of scheme, but the plan was simply to wait?
‘Is it right to leave it to him like this?’
Cain was beginning to regret handing over the financial authority. Seeing Cain like this, Nahun thought inwardly.
‘As expected, he doesn’t believe it.’
It was indeed a statement that would come off as somewhat reckless. But it was true; money would come in just by waiting.
It was only natural that Nahun, a user of Ebel Queen Maker, knew all the events that would unfold early on. The reason Nahun said to wait was due to a specific event that took place at the game’s beginning.
Knock, knock.
A cautious knock sounded. Before Nahun could say anything, Cain, curious about the matter, asked. Then, a shy-sounding male voice came from beyond the door.
“U-uh, Master. A letter has arrived.”
“A letter?”
At the mention of the letter arriving, Cain looked at Nahun. The timing was perfect with the mention of waiting for something. Cain questioned his eyes, doubting.
‘Is he smiling?’
As if it was expected, Nahun was smiling knowingly. He turned to Cain and said.
“Let’s receive it quickly.”
“Were you waiting for this?”
“Well… I don’t know if my guess is correct.”
Leaving the modest Nahun behind, Cain opened the door. Eldein, one of the few remaining attendants of the mansion, held a luxurious envelope.
“Where did it come from?”
“Ah, it came from downstairs.”
At the mention of downstairs, Cain’s expression hardened. He asked urgently.
“From which floor?”
“Th-that would be… the 71st floor.”
The 71st floor. Upon hearing this, Cain’s mouth fell open.
“N-Nahun….”
“Yes, Cain.”
“Could it be… were you waiting for this?”
Nahun met Cain’s eyes and slowly nodded.
“You’re kidding….”
It was rare to see Cain, who was usually polite to everyone, cursing. Cain held the back of his neck as if he might faint.
“Why are you so worried?”
“Can you not worry? Didn’t you say it came from the 71st floor?”
The realms of the 72 Demon Kings that govern the Demon World are divided into “floors.” The Demon World is shaped like an enormous tower.
The ranks are distinguished by attaching a floor number to their order, meaning the lowest-ranked Demon King, Seere, occupies the 72nd floor.
Thus, a letter arriving from the 71st floor meant it came from a Demon King ranked above Seere. One might question the fuss over just one rank difference, but one had to consider that the Demon King ranks are not determined solely by personal power.
While individual strength is significant, the size and influence of the forces they command are critical. Therefore, the difference between the 72nd and 71st floors is not negligible.
Since the scale of their forces varies, the economic scale is also different, and the quality of the armies they command is much superior.
Moreover, the 72nd floor is the highest in the Demon World and the closest to the human realm, with which it has maintained an adversarial relationship for many years. While from the perspective of the Demon World, the 72nd floor is the highest, from the human world above it, the 72nd floor is the closest. Hence, it is the floor most frequently invaded by humans.
Consequently, the armies are continually depleted, and the Demon King on the 72nd floor is said to be in an environment that makes it impossible for him to expand his territory.
So, the arrival of a letter from the 71st floor sent Cain into a frenzy. The disparity in power, not just in terms of individual strength but with the young Seere unable to compete against them, made imagining what demands might arise horrifying.
Cain took his hand off the back of his neck and calmed down for a moment before handing the letter envelope to Nahun.
“This letter, you wouldn’t happen to have requested it, would you?”
“Not at all. I merely expected it to come.”
“How could you have predicted that?”
“Simple.”
Nahun answered very straightforwardly.
“Seere has obtained a teacher for the first time? Naturally, those just above her rank would need to keep an eye on Seere. They couldn’t help but be interested.”
“Then, are you saying this letter only talks about you, Nahun?”
“Not at all. They’re probably looking to extort something too.”
He shrugged as if to say it was obvious. Cain looked at Nahun with a perplexed expression, unable to understand his attitude.
“Then I still don’t understand what you mean by waiting for the letter. Do you expect us to offer something to another Demon King?”
“You don’t need to worry about that, Cain.”
Cain felt slightly flustered. Just like when the letter arrived, Nahun wore an inexplicable confident smile.
“Let’s see what it says.”
Nahun tore open the letter envelope he had received from Cain. After checking the contents, he broke into a slight chuckle.
“They’ll be coming in a few days.”
“Ah… what!? Who is it?”
“Who else would it be?”
Nahun looked at Cain as if to say not to ask such obvious questions. Seeing that look in Nahun’s eyes, Cain was unable to suppress his shock.
“Please, say it isn’t so….”
“You probably have it right, Cain. Unless you had other thoughts?”
Nahun folded the letter and handed it back to him. Cain took it with slightly trembling hands and opened it. The expression on Cain’s face hardened, and his hands began to shake.
“Ah… oh no!!”
“Calm down, Cain.”
“Do I look calm!?”
Cain shouted, pointing at the letter.
“Citri is coming in person!?”