Demon King of the Royal Class

Chapter 367 [Illustration]

In the deep of night, after a short walk, Duke Granz sat quietly in his office. He sat there in the darkness, with the lights turned off, lost in thought.

He was recalling the conversation he’d had with Owen de Getmora during the guildmaster’s visit not long ago. It was rare for Owen to visit. He only did so when an urgent matter arose, and Duke Granz agreed that it was indeed a pressing issue.

They had discussed a negotiation with the remnants of the Demon Realm.

.

.

“Their condition is that all the leaders must be present at the meeting, not just a representative. They have good information on the leaders of the movement, so if anyone is absent, the negotiations could easily fall apart,” Owen explained.

“This could be a trap,” Duke Granz said.

“In exchange for this, they are willing to allow us to have as much security as we feel we need,” Owen replied.

“Confidence, perhaps,” Duke Granz mused.

“Indeed. After all, their forces massacred Leverier Lanche and the elite holy knights who were with him. They seem to believe they can fend off any possible attack,” Owen said.

“As I’ve said repeatedly, joining hands with the demons is madness,” Duke Granz insisted.

“I agree with you, but the majority of the leaders have already reached a consensus,” Owen responded.

“We don’t know what they’re thinking or what their intentions are. We know too little about them to join hands just because they hold power,” Duke Granz argued.

“I agree wholeheartedly with your opinion, Your Grace. We won’t be able to decide everything at that meeting, and the Demon King won’t act rashly either. Attacking us would be a grave mistake from their perspective,” Owen assured him.

The discussion about whether to ally with the remnants of the Demon Realm and the next Demon King had gone on, but due to the nature of their organization, it was difficult to gather all the leaders for a meeting, and so the debate was conducted through written communication or individual exchanges.

The organization had been thrown into chaos once news surfaced that the remnants of the Demon Realm had discovered the secret of the guildmaster of the Merchants’ Guild. No one even begin to understand where the demons had picked up that scent.

Owen had testified that, when the demons contacted him, they had already gathered information on some of the leadership, and now, they claimed to know the identities of everyone.

“We have no choice, Your Grace,” Owen said.

.

.

Joining hands with the demons was the worst possible move. There would be questions asked about such a revolution from the start, and even if it succeeded, such a revolution could not be sustained.

However, the demons already had all the information about them. If they didn’t join hands, the demons could simply inform the empire about the Revolutionary Forces, and eliminate them without lifting a finger themselves. Perhaps it was better to be grateful for the demons’ mercy, as they had proposed an alliance against the empire rather than eliminating them outright.

The choice was between dying at the hands of the empire, or embarking on a perilous journey with a dangerous ally.

They had to choose between the two. However, the moment the demons extended their hand, Duke Granz realized that the revolution had already failed.

Their uprising could fail on its own, but if they managed to succeed by joining hands with the enemies of humanity, the future could not be guaranteed, and they would likely fail eventually. Failure was inevitable no matter where they turned.

“Is there no other choice...?” he wondered aloud.

According to Owen, a significant portion of the leadership welcomed this situation with open arms.

Was gaining additional power really a cause for celebration, given where it would come from? Duke Granz felt an overwhelming sense of unease.

Had the revolution failed? Had success even been possible in the first place? Even within the movement itself, factions had arisen, arguments had erupted, and there was constant tension between those who were from the Orbis Class and those who were not. Political infighting became so common that it was now accepted as the norm.

A revolution that had never been executed, and an age-old revolutionary organization... This group, which had only grown in size while rotting from within without ever carrying out a revolution... Could it truly achieve one?

“...”

Duke Granz left his office and walked down the corridor. After much deliberation, the conclusion was already reached.

Even without his consent, the organization had already made its decision. Being part of an organization meant that sometimes one had to go along even when it went against one’s own will. This was one of those times.

—Why does that even matter?!

A sharp voice pierced through Duke Granz’s thoughts as he walked down the corridor. He thought his daughter had returned to the Temple, but it seemed she had actually come back home.

—I’ve told you repeatedly not to associate with those of lower status. And now, not only do you bring them over, but you also throw drinking parties with them? If this becomes a rumor...

—And what if it does?

Duke Granz sighed, recognizing the familiar sound of a mother-daughter quarrel. If he weren’t so particular about where he slept, he wouldn’t even set foot in his own house. His daughter disliked the main house, but had a hard time sleeping anywhere else.

—It might seem fine now, but don’t you realize this will leave scars on you? Do you have to learn it the hard way? Quit the Temple now and come home! I’ll arrange for bridal lessons or a tutor, whatever it takes.

—Ha. If these bridal lessons of yours leads to me living a life like yours, I wouldn’t want that even if it were given to me.

—W-what did you just say?

—If taking bridal lessons and living like you is the alternative, I’d rather live my life associating with commoners. At least I wouldn’t end up judging people all the time, like you do.

Duke Granz stood in the corridor, unable to intervene or ignore the conversation, listening from afar. The servants were usually tight-lipped, so these conversations rarely leaked outside, but even without rumors, there were those who knew. They knew that the Granz household was in disarray.

—Are you going to run away and marry a commoner like your father?

—Do you think that’s why I’d run away? If I ever ran away, it would be to escape from you, not to marry a commoner.

His daughter’s sharp retort was even colder than the icy tone of the Duchess.

—What... did you say?

—Dad didn’t even get what he wanted. But despite having everything you ever wanted, you’re still not happy. So why do you insist I live my life like you?

—How... how could you say such things to your mother...

His daughter, who had been strong-willed since childhood, was not one to listen to her mother, but the duchess wasn’t weak-willed either. In terms of tenacity, she was one of the most formidable people Duke Granz knew. As their daughter had grown older, the conflict between mother and daughter had only intensified.

Despite knowing her mother detested it, Riana had brought her friends to the mansion. She was aware that her mother’s pride would prevent her from openly expressing her displeasure in front of commoners.

—If you keep saying things you shouldn’t to my friends, discriminating against them openly, and looking at them like that, I’ll show you what it’s like to lose the only child in this already unbearable household, so be careful.

—You... You! Riana! Stop right there!

Bang!

Riana emerged into the hallway and slammed the door to the duchess’s room shut, her face flushed with anger. Her eyes met those of Duke Granz, who had been eavesdropping on the conversation.

“...”

“...”

Riana wasn’t angry at him for eavesdropping. She simply stared at him, her eyes still filled with anger.

“Riana, I am...”

“On my side, right?”

When she preempted his words, Duke Granz found himself at a loss for what to say. “I am on your side” was something he often said.

“Just like how Mom wants me to live the way she does, you want me to live the life you couldn’t,” Riana said.

Bound by status, he couldn’t have what he most desired. Thus, he had always told her that she could live a life pursuing those things. In the end, though, he was just imposing something different on her.

Both Mom and Dad were ultimately forcing a certain kind of life on Riana.

Riana’s words left Duke Granz feeling utterly defeated, and he could only remain silent.

“I’m sick of being treated as the only reason for your failed marriage to continue,” Riana said as she brushed past him.

She left the mansion, apparently heading back to the Temple rather than her own room. Duke Granz watched her retreating figure with a bitter smile.

The only reason for failed parents to maintain their marriage... At some point, his daughter had begun to see herself as that sort of miserable figure.

Perhaps the realization that this was all her life amounted to tormented her so much that she had started drinking alone before falling asleep. He had often seen the traces of tears on her sleeping face.

Duke Granz watched as his daughter strode through the garden and left the mansion. The wintry night sky was overcast.

***

Two days later...

It was night in the small southern nation of the empire, Levaina.

Duke Granz was there to attend the meeting with the next Demon King, whose revelation had stirred the entire continent.

It was extremely rare for the leadership of the Republican Revolutionary Organization to gather in one place. Just having numerous important individuals from various sectors of society gathering together without a clear reason was suspicious in itself. Therefore, a general assembly of all the leaders was only convened for matters of significant importance.

This was the first such meeting since the closure of the Orbis Class. They were not meeting in the capital, but in one of the Merchants’ Guild branches in the southern part of the continent. It was disguised as a meeting of investors involved in the Merchants’ Guild’s southern trade management project.

Although the Demon King had given assurances that they could prepare as much security as needed, Duke Granz could not bring most of his private army with him. He had only brought along several trusted knights from the Granz household and the family mage. Though they were few in number, Duke Granz believed that even if the remnants of the demon forces had other intentions besides just negotiation in mind, they were enough to help him escape.

The meeting was being held in one of the Merchants’ Guild’s branches located on the outskirts of Raziern, the capital of the southern kingdom of Levaina. A location too lavish or close to the city center would attract attention, so they had chosen a more secluded place. Naturally, the guildmaster of the Merchants’ Guild had selected the location.

There were already plenty of others there when Duke Granz entered the meeting room. There were individuals from various sectors of society, including nobles, high-ranking officials, writers, and scholars of all backgrounds.

The Demon King had not yet arrived.

Though such meetings were not frequently convened, under normal circumstances, the leaders of the organization would at least exchange pleasantries. However, things were different this time around. They were preparing for a meeting with the Demon King, who had turned the entire continent upside down.

Whether they supported this meeting or not, every single person wore expressions of anxiety, anticipation, fear, and a hint of skepticism. No one was speaking carelessly.

No guards or security forces were allowed this far in. However, it was clear that everyone had at least brought a teleportation scroll for emergency escape.

All seventeen leaders had gathered, and Duke Granz felt a slight hint of unease. The guildmaster of the Merchants’ Guild, Owen de Getmora, was absent.

Though not part of the leadership, he was a high-ranking official who took care of the Revolutionary Forces’ finances. Moreover, since he was the one who had direct contact with the Demon King’s agent, he should have been present as the liaison.

The source of his unease soon revealed itself.

Gwoooarrr!

A sound that had no place in the human world echoed through the night.

“What is... this?”

One by one, people stood up and looked out the window.

Flash!

Flash!

Bursts of light flashed outside as things began to appear one by one.

Ogres.

Orcs.

Goblins.

Imps.

These and numerous other demons were appearing simultaneously.

A host of demons, their eyes glowing red, were arriving through teleportation, enveloped in light.

“Demons!”

“Could it be that these bastards...?!”

They had claimed they wanted a meeting, but it seemed they intended to attack.

The swarm of demons that had appeared via teleportation right outside the Merchants’ Guild branch, the meeting venue, moved in to attack.

This was the outskirts of the city so they couldn’t rely on the city guards for help, and even if the guards arrived as quickly as possible, the battle would likely be over by then, given the scale of the demon attack.

“We’ve got to escape!” someone yelled.

All the leaders, as if waiting for that moment, reached into their robes and pulled out teleportation scrolls.

All the leaders had prepared many contingencies in the event of an emergency, and Duke Granz was no exception.

Swish!

However, the teleportation scrolls, which should have emitted light and transported them away, did not activate.

“Spatial movement has been... blocked?” someone muttered blankly.

Their teleportation scrolls were not activating. A barrier that could block spatial movement could not be set up quickly, yet it was clear that such a barrier was in place.

“It’s alright. The guards we brought with us can handle this. If we break through and get outside the range of the spatial barrier, we should be able to move freely,” someone said to reassure the rest.

The guards they’d brought, though few, were the elite of the elite.

Bang! Boom!

The knights and mages, who had rushed out to meet the sudden attack, engaged the red-eyed demons in combat.

Though there were many demons, it would not be difficult to fend them off. The demons had miscalculated; there was no way they could massacre the entire leadership of the revolutionary organization with just this.

However, the sense of unease persisted.

A spatial magic barrier... The demons’ eyes glowing red, without showing any sign of focus...

Gwoooarrr!

Thud! Thud!

They were swinging their weapons blindly, with nothing but brute force.

‘Mind control...?’

The thought that these demons might have been subjected to some magical manipulation wouldn’t leave his mind.

The guards they had brought were not simpletons who would fall to such wild attacks. The attacking demons were slaughtered without leaving so much as a scratch.

“What did they take us for...?” the leadership murmured in disbelief as they watched the demons, who had launched a surprise attack, being utterly slaughtered.

None of them were fools. It was good that they were winning, but everyone knew that this was too sloppy for an ambush.

Just then, Duke Granz soon found the real enemy amidst the flood of demons.

Under the cover of darkness, there were others dressed in black and wielding swords.

“Knights...?” someone questioned.

One of the swords glowed with a blue light.

An aura blade... It was the mark of a Swordmaster.

This group with several Swordmasters, who were individually considered powerful asymmetric forces even individually, began to crush their guards.

“Are those demons... really that strong?”

“No.” Duke Granz muttered blankly as he watched the guards being swiftly cut down. “They can’t be demons...”

Spatial movement had been blocked, and numerous veteran knights were cutting down their guards, who were falling like autumn leaves, amidst the swarm of demons.

Duke Granz, amidst the people in black, recognized a familiar face.

“Sabioleen... Tana...”

The leader of Shanapell was there.

***

The guards were annihilated in an instant. Once the guards were wiped out, the attacking demons collapsed where they stood like empty shells.

Thud, thud.

It was the sound of footsteps approaching the meeting room. There was nowhere to escape to. The people in black gradually entered the meeting room and revealed themselves. Despite the massacre, their clothes were impeccably clean, without a single drop of blood.

No one had managed to escape.

Everyone in the room recognized Sabioleen Tana’s face. The leader of Shanapell calmly surveyed the conference room before taking a seat in one of the empty chairs.

“Did you think the empire was unaware of your existence?” she said calmly.

The demons hadn’t betrayed them.

This location, with its barrier that blocked spatial movement... The person who had arranged the meeting place... The one who had persuaded everyone to gather here.

“Owen led us into a trap.”

Owen de Getmora...

Everyone in the room belatedly realized that he had been lying from the very beginning.

Then what was the demon attack all about?

Duke Granz gritted his teeth, glaring at Sabioleen Tana.

“Are you trying to disguise this as the work of demons...?!”

The leaders of the movement were in the room, but the rest of the Revolutionary Forces were spread out everywhere. Even if the leaders died, the spirit of the revolution wouldn’t die.

“Yes. From this moment, your organization will come under the empire’s control. The guildmaster of the Merchants’ Guild will become the next leader of the revolutionary organization.”

Duke Granz didn’t know whose idea it was to create a puppet Revolutionary Force.

“Internally, it will be reported that you were meeting with demon forces here to discuss an alliance, and after negotiations broke down, you were all killed. To the rest of the empire, your deaths will be reported as the result of an unexpected demon attack,” Sabioleen Tana explained as if granting a final courtesy to those about to die.

She signaled to the knights of Shanapell, who were playing the role of assassins rather than knights.

“Kill them all. We need to manipulate the bodies and causes of death, so leave no obvious external wounds.”

With that cold declaration, lives began to be extinguished one by one.