I Was Abandoned by the Demon King I Served for 10 Years

Chapter 15

"Heh... Hehehe... Hehehehe."

The joy of victory dulled Aurela's mind. It was an electrifying thrill. After a week of intense battles, she had slain all the vermin of the South and even secured countless spoils of war.

As a Governor, she had never once laid her hands on gold coins, but now they were within her grasp.

Even this was modest when looking toward the future. Resources from various tribes of the Southern Continent were to be requisitioned, promising an overwhelming influx of supplies to Ractelrun. From the moment she claimed the rights of a war victor, she could enjoy a prosperity incomparable to before.

The time had come to once again make the cradle of Southern civilization shine brilliantly.

If all this glory were attributed to the great Regent, Skull Crusher Durin, it would surely be a tremendous blessing....

"Enough. Aurela. Stop your nonsense and get moving."

Unlike the elated Aurela, Durin did not indulge in the joy of victory. Post-war duties kept him busier than ever. The battlefield had been a convergence of the Hero, the Demon King, and the Rebel Army. Reports pouring in daily only piled up his workload.

[We have captured the remnants of the defeated troops who fled to the northeastern tribe. All those who caused the disturbance will be executed.]

[The capital of the Barbarians has formally expressed unconditional surrender. The Great Chieftain's son is said to be coming as an envoy.]

[A Shaman dispatched from the Central region is requesting the reestablishment of Demon Realm law in the South.]

It was a continent separated for a staggering 1,000 years. The culture and systems, as different as the years apart from the Central region, required immense effort to integrate under the castle's order. It felt very much like starting from scratch.

"Hehehe. My apologies. I was just so overjoyed by this victory...."

"Aurela. You'd better stop while you're ahead. Show some decorum."

At the center of it all was Verdia. The immature figure she had once been when they first met had faded significantly. As she settled into her role as a Legionnaire, she began to reveal the qualities befitting the daughter of a Great Chieftain. Verdia sighed deeply as she looked at Aurela, then bowed her head to Durin.

"Your Excellency. The Barbarian households have arrived at our military camp. Please step outside to meet them directly."

It was welcome news amidst the wait. The final task to solidify the castle's dominance awaited him.

Without delay, Durin stepped outside the camp.

Under a sky where crows chased after corpses, dozens of Barbarians had gathered. They lacked the rugged and fierce aura of warriors, appearing more fragile, like the nobles of Ractelrun. At the forefront, a gaunt Demon staggered and knelt.

"Master of the Central region. We have been waiting for you."

The Great Chieftain's son. In the South, where commanders personally led battles, he was not the legitimate heir but a surviving blood relative. All the children recognized as warriors had already become heads on stakes, staring back at them. In a way, he could be considered fortunate. He had been granted the chance to carry on the lineage in place of his family who had perished.

The gaunt son of the Great Chieftain lowered himself as much as he could, as if determined not to squander this opportunity.

"My name is Haral. To atone for the sins of the impious Gullan, I humbly plead. I vow to live my life according to the laws of the Demon Realm, so please, take us under your shadow. We will follow the castle's order."

His trembling voice barely managed to utter the oath of loyalty. Yet Durin's reaction was indifferent. The Great Demon merely looked down in silence, and the frozen atmosphere weighed heavily on the nobles. Even the Demons of Ractelrun, who were supposed to be allies, swallowed nervously.

"Did the Shamans tell you to say this nonsense?"

"To be precise, it was the judges of Ractelrun who instructed me. I heard that a Verbal Command is necessary for the law to take effect."

"A Verbal Command, huh...."

"Since this is the first rebellion in 300 years, the Governor and I consulted the legal code. It seems that for the Dominion Magic Energy to be properly invoked, the exact words of the author must be spoken without a single error."

"Even the fleeing Demon King said the same thing during her coronation ceremony. And what happened to her now?"

No one could answer. They were living witnesses to the events. Durin despised empty words. He no longer trusted voices that scattered into the air.

"The law serves as a guideline to follow, not as a guarantee for everything. It must be etched into the skin to be truly enforced."

Clang!

With those words, Durin threw a dagger onto the ground.

Startled by the loud noise, the Barbarians recoiled in fear. Only the gaunt Haral, unable to retreat as their representative, trembled violently. He couldn't even think of meeting Durin's gaze, his shaking hand reaching for the dagger.

Durin spoke as he watched him.

"Carve it into your arm. My magic energy is imbued in the blade, so you will feel the oath."

"Your Excellency?"

"The pain won't last long. In fact, you should be glad for the chance to fully accept the castle's magic energy."

"Y-Your Excellency."

Haral called out to Durin in panic, but no response came. It was a sign that there was no other choice. Lowering his gaze, he looked at the rusted dagger. A faint red magic energy swirled around its tarnished blade. He had to stab that sharp object into his arm.

A fear no warrior should feel tightened around Haral's throat. His body refused to move, even under the Regent's command.

"Tsk, disgraceful."

"Your Excellency. Allow me to step forward."

Some Southern nobles, unable to stand by any longer, stepped forward. They seemed to see this as an opportunity to prove their unwavering loyalty. Durin deemed it appropriate and nodded.

"Very well. Engrave it properly on his arm."

"Leave it to us!"

With the Regent's permission granted, the nobles surrounded the Barbarians. Their shadows loomed over them. One noble cautiously lifted Durin's dagger and slowly approached.

"S-Sister! Sister!"

A desperate cry was directed at Verdia. For a moment, footsteps halted. All eyes turned to the Daughter of the Rock. It was a plea to familial bonds, asking what she would do.

"It was Father's doing! I never even dreamed of rebellion! Why, why must I suffer this fate?"

"......."

"Sister! Please. Please! Help me!"

It was a heartfelt plea. Tears streamed down his distorted face.

But Verdia's expression remained unchanged. She was indifferent. To be precise, she simply didn't care.

She walked toward the stakes. Her father's tormented face, which she had personally severed, came into view. Touching his hardened cheek, she felt its coldness. Verdia's resolve mirrored that chill.

"Engrave it."

"S-Sister?"

"If he resists too much, you may kill him. There are still plenty of the Great Chieftain's bloodline left."

"Understood."

Faced with the resolute verdict, Haral struggled, but it was futile. Hands from all sides, eager to secure a better position in life-or-death circumstances, restrained him.

Aaaaargh-!

Screams echoed. The sound of flesh tearing erupted without pause.

The weak-willed among them averted their gaze, unable to bear the sight.

"......."

Among the Southern Barbarians, only Verdia continued to watch the scene alongside Durin.

It was accompanied by an unusual sense of satisfaction.

#

"Barbaric. As expected of the Demon Army."

Beyond the slightly ajar tent door, the gruesome acts of the Demons continued unabated. It seemed highly likely that anyone who misstepped would meet the same fate. The Dwarf warrior's resolve to act once his body recovered wavered in that moment.

"It seems there's nothing we can do until they make the first move. Ah well, it can't be helped."

Skull Crusher Durin. As long as his blood-red eyes glared, they had to remain here.

"Yes. It’s better to wait until your body recovers."

The Dwarf warrior Turan slumped into a chair. In front of him were his party members recuperating in bed.

The One-Armed Hero struggling to breathe and the Elf with a pallor that wouldn’t fade.

The last one... Just thinking about it made him sigh first.

"How... How did we even survive?"

The Elf Eliya stared blankly into the void as she asked. It was a question that had lingered in her mind since she regained consciousness last night.

The Hero Party had invaded the Demon Realm and taken their king. No, to be precise, that woman had followed them, but such internal details didn’t matter to the Demons.

Meeting under such dire circumstances, it wouldn’t have been strange if the entire party had been killed. Honestly, the Elf, who survived thanks to the World Tree’s protection, had braced herself to face her dismembered comrades. Only one had died... While it couldn’t be called fortunate, it wasn’t the worst outcome.

"Turan, were you awake back then?"

"Me? Awake, my ass. I almost died from a single finger-point while trying to catch the fleeing Demon King."

"...It’s a miracle you’re alive."

"Hahaha. If this counts as an achievement, then so be it."

"I envy how at ease you are, even while being held in the Demon Army’s camp. Maybe I need to think positively to pull myself together. Ugh."

Pain radiating from her chest interrupted the Elf’s words. Looking down, she saw a long, jagged black scar. She was barely holding on thanks to the World Tree’s power. While her life wasn’t in immediate danger, she would likely carry this pain for the rest of her life.

"Still, since Kael is alive, we have to endure. We need to get him out of here."

"Can we even get him out? We might end up like the other Demons out there."

"...Let’s just hope that’s not the case."

It was an irresponsible statement, but there wasn’t a single point to refute. Their fate was entirely out of their hands, like death row inmates awaiting execution. With no strength, no weapons, and even Heaven unable to reach them, it wouldn’t be strange for them to drown in despair.

Flap!

As their aimless conversation continued, the tent’s entrance flung open.

A rough hand interrupted the flow. After the harsh presence of a Dullahan passed, a Demon with red horns entered.

"You’re lucky. Clearly, you’re not the culprits."

The sneering voice grated on both the Dwarf and the Elf. Her crossed arms exuded an air of confidence.

Turan remembered her face. She was the strange Demon who had been grinning beside Durin. Judging by her demeanor, it was clear she wouldn’t let things go smoothly.

"Do you have business here?"

"Would I be here if I didn’t? Hurry up and get dressed. We’re going somewhere."

The Demon tossed a black hood at them with a flick. The two looked at the ragged garment that landed on their knees before turning their gaze to the Hero.

"Are just the two of us going? What about the Hero?"

"We’ll handle him on our end. Just get moving. It’s the Regent’s order."

The Regent referred to Durin.

Eliya and Turan had no choice but to suppress their rising questions. The nightmarish battle scenes resurfaced in their minds.

It was the Great Demon who had toyed with the Hero and even taken his left arm. The fact that he was still alive could only be called a miracle.

"Why on earth..."

To avoid drawing attention among the Demons, they covered their faces. There were countless unresolved questions, but for now, they obediently followed the Demons’ instructions.

The answers they sought would likely come when they faced them directly.

"Follow me. If you get distracted, you might die on the spot, so be careful."

#

"Your Excellency, the Hero’s party is currently on their way to meet the Prophetess of Oracle."

Aurela reported. Durin listened to her voice attentively in his office.

"Shamans dispatched from Ractelrun will warp them to the Rock Shrine. The Golden Guardians will personally handle their escort, so there shouldn’t be any major issues."

"If it’s them, they can be trusted. Has there been any indication of when the meeting will conclude?"

"I’m sorry. No specific details have been conveyed."

"Then it doesn’t matter. We’ll wait."

"Understood. I’ll take my leave now."

The Governor retreated briskly. Once this matter was resolved, all the issues reported in the documents would be addressed. Checking the time, it was well past midnight.

Durin rose from his seat and stepped outside.

The Barbarians ruled by fear and the Southern nobles crushed under authority.

The Royal Guard of the castle, who had replaced their anxiety over losing the Demon King with steadfast faith.

The shamans and subordinates who now divided and carried out tasks Durin had once handled alone.

Under the dark night, the castle’s army displayed the discipline befitting a legion. Having built confidence through victory, they would not falter even if another rebellion arose. Moreover, the castle’s internal affairs were well-managed by the Chief Shaman Rudmila, leaving little for him to worry about.

"......."

At least, that should have been the case.

In the distance, a Demon was running frantically outside the barracks. It wasn’t a messenger delivering urgent news. It was a shaman from Ractelrun, clad in a black robe. Naturally, his gaze was drawn to her, as she was supposed to be working with the judges to apply the Demon Realm’s laws to the Southern Continent.

Only one possibility came to mind.

"Your Excellency, Central has requested an emergency communication."

The voice outside the tent was breathless. The urgency in the shaman’s tone underscored the gravity of the situation. Without asking for details, Durin immediately stepped outside.

"Where is the communication being conducted?"

"A separate area has been prepared. Please follow me."

Following the shaman’s guidance, Durin moved toward a small tent a short distance from the command barracks. The Golden Guardians, transformed into statues, guarded it vigilantly, blocking any unauthorized access. After dismissing the shaman, Durin opened the tent’s entrance and stepped inside.

"......."

Inside, illuminated by a single blue lantern, sat Rudmila. However, her form was faint, a projection created through a communication spell.

Acting Regent Rudmila, who should have been overseeing Central, had urgently summoned Durin. The fact that the Chief Shaman, entrusted with the Seal of the Demon King, was involved meant a matter of utmost importance awaited him.

"Durin, I’d love to share in the joy of victory, but the situation is too urgent. Let’s get straight to the point. Is that alright?"

Though she spoke calmly, the marks of her bitten lips betrayed her tension. Rudmila was clearly on edge.

"I’ve received a rough briefing from my mentor. We thought capturing the Hero was enough, but what else are they plotting now?"

It was more of a demand than a question. She wanted answers immediately. Since there was no reason to hide it, Durin nodded without hesitation.

"That’s correct. As you said, the Prophetess of Oracle has shown the path forward. Capturing the Hero ensured its fulfillment, so there’s no need to worry."

"It’s rare to see a Demon speak with such confidence. Most of them waste time causing a ruckus, claiming they’ll fight, only to die without achieving anything. Success stories are almost nonexistent."

Her tone was cautious. As a shaman, she too was gauging the weight of destiny. Rudmila, not as a mere observer but as a shaman who glimpsed the future, was issuing a warning.

"So, it seems wiser to be even more cautious. You’ve caused a significant shock to the flow of the world. Only the mentor would know the outcome... but for now, it seems fine since there’s no word otherwise."

"Is that why you contacted me?"

"Not at all. The circumstances of the Holy Order aren’t so generous that we can waste this expensive communication spell freely. But…"

Rudmila spoke with a bitter smile. It was a remark mixed with self-mockery and jest. However, the following words failed to lighten the mood.

"It’s not something we can afford to save on. The Angel has made a move. It’s presumed to have happened around the time the Demon King left the Demon Realm and you captured the Hero."

"......"

"There’s really not much time left now. Hurry."