NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 15
### Chapter 15
The day of departure had arrived.
“Is it time to start moving?”
Nahun checked his outfit one last time and firmly placed a helmet on Seere, who was standing next to him with a blank expression. Seere shook her head in discomfort, but Nahun insisted, forcing the helmet onto her.
“Bear with it. It might protect your life.”
“Yes….”
Nahun lightly picked up Seere in his arms. He chuckled a bit at how Seere looked more naïve with the helmet on.
“If you manage to keep it on and endure, I’ll let you have a piece of cake when you come back.”
“Really?”
“Have I ever lied when making a promise?”
“No!”
Seere forgot her discomfort and smiled brightly at the thought of eating cake.
Nahun turned to Kane.
“Has the commander left?”
“He left at dawn.”
“We should hurry then. I’ll be back.”
“Good luck.”
After bringing Seere to the courtyard of the Demon King Castle, Nahun encountered a man who politely offered a greeting.
“Baruna Vice Commander,”
“I’ve been waiting for you.”
It was Baruna, the Vice Commander of the Fourth Legion. Unlike Rin, who had gone ahead to the 70th floor, Baruna had been ordered to wait and bring Nahun and Seere along. He pointed to a temporary portal that led to the 70th floor.
“It was provided by His Majesty Citri. You will go directly to the 70th floor.”
Nahun glanced at the temporary portal for a moment before muttering to himself.
“They gave us something cheap.”
“Excuse me?”
“Oh, never mind. Let’s go.”
“…Yes.”
Nahun and Seere entered the portal, followed by Baruna and the legionnaires he led. As they disappeared into the portal, a group emerged from the shadows.
“All threats have been eliminated. Occupy the Demon King Castle.”
“Understood.”
They were the special forces of Andromalius, known as ‘Tenebris’, specialized in stealth attacks. Angered by the intervention of the 72nd floor in the war on the 70th floor, Andromalius had sent this unit to assault the Demon King Castle.
Duncan, the leader of Tenebris, commanded in a hushed tone.
“There are only non-combatants inside now. Eliminate them all.”
“Yes!”
Hearing the command, the members of Tenebris swiftly infiltrated the interior of the Demon King Castle. They moved with the skill characteristic of well-trained stealth units. The non-combatants inside the castle likely wouldn’t even notice their presence.
Boom!
Suddenly, the front door burst open, and the door flew off. Duncan looked at the door that flew beside him with a hint of surprise. With the door came one of his subordinates, a member of Tenebris.
“I don’t recall inviting anyone… Who are you?”
A man neatly trimmed his beard and appeared in formal attire, holding another soldier’s face in one hand. Duncan narrowed his eyes at him.
“What’s going on, you…?”
According to the information, there were no combatants left on the 72nd floor after Baruna had disappeared. The man who had come out, having knocked away his subordinate, was also not a combatant.
‘Housekeeper Kane. Contrary to the information, is he a combatant?!’
He was not. Their information had not been wrong. Kane was indeed a civil servant, not a military officer, and had been in charge as a housekeeper since Seir’s time, having never appeared as a soldier.
However, some individuals who had been responsible for guarding the Demon King Castle since Seir’s time possessed unexpected abilities despite being non-combatants.
This was due to the caution of Seir von Debata. When the combat personnel left the Demon King Castle, they had chosen individuals with decent skills to serve as protectors against unforeseen stealth attacks.
Of course, as the former lord’s forces were so vast and powerful, the personnel inside the castle had never participated in battle. Thus, their abilities had remained undisclosed.
So, some individuals who had been responsible for the internal security of the Demon King Castle since the former lord…
“Are we being attacked?”
If the combat power of those like Rin and Baruna were rated at a flat 100, the combat power of Kane and a few others was between 70 and 80. They could easily handle a mere stealth unit from the 70th floor.
“Gah!”
“Cough!”
A Tenebris member crashed through the window and fell into the courtyard, while the sounds of their comrades inside the castle could be heard as they struggled and fell.
“Master Housekeeper, I’ve taken care of two here~!”
It was Cecili, brandishing a bloodied broom while showcasing her fox tail, characteristic of the Kitsune tribe. Following her was Leah, the gentle head maid, dragging two of the fallen members along.
“There were two on my side.”
“Oh, is everyone alright? There was a little rat in the kitchen, by the way.”
Mark emerged with a blood-stained kitchen knife, dragging the already lifeless body of a Tenebris member into the courtyard. Kane inquired of Duncan, who was still stiff from the situation.
“Is this all of them?”
Six members of Tenebris, specialized in stealth, had been eliminated in an instant. Duncan felt fear at this overwhelming sight as he looked at them.
Though on the surface they all wore friendly expressions, to Duncan, they appeared differently. They were predators with glowing eyes emerging from the darkness.
He screamed, invoking the name of the insane Demon King who had kept such beings locked away in the depth of the Demon King Castle.
“Seir, von, Debata…!”
#
“By the way, Nahun,”
“Hmm?”
Baruna, who had arrived at the 70th floor through the portal, asked Nahun cautiously.
“Is it really alright to completely empty the Demon King Castle like this? I know there are stealth units under Andromalius…”
“Then you know it wouldn’t matter even if they did launch an assault on the Demon King Castle, right?”
“!”
Baruna was genuinely shocked. Nahun’s statement implied that he had already assessed the abilities of those the former lord had placed inside the Demon King Castle due to their characteristic caution.
“How long have you known?”
“From the beginning. I already knew these kinds of secrets while playing the game. But saying that would raise suspicions, so I made a little excuse.”
“…Is that so.”
At first, Baruna wasn’t entirely pleased with the royal advisor. However, the actions Nahun demonstrated starting from the training yard were forcing him to acknowledge his capabilities.
Even now, he was accurate in understanding the power of the Demon King Castle before the sortie and focused on the conquest of the 70th floor. He was displaying the qualities of a competent commander.
Baruna lowered his head, acknowledging Nahun.
“Nahun, give me your orders.”
“Baruna, you’re misunderstanding something.”
As Baruna slightly lifted his head, Nahun pointed to the adorable little girl nestled in his arms.
“The one you should be loyal to is not me, but Seere von Debata.”
“…Understood. Your Majesty, please give me your orders.”
“Seere, may I give orders for a moment?”
The helmet-clad Seere nodded her head in permission.
“Baruna, by now Rin should be in contact with Aaron Raiders’ forces. You should also join them and provide support.”
“I shall obey.”
Baruna and the elite soldiers of the Fourth Legion quickly departed, and Seere looked at Nahun with her sparkling eyes.
“Teacher, where are we going?”
“We are going to His Majesty Citri.”
“Lord Citri!”
“And….”
Nahun paused, thinking to say something, and glanced at Seere with a slight smile.
“I’ll tell you once we get there.”
“Mm?”
As Seere tilted her head, Nahun led her towards the battlefield where Citri was located.
#
Citri arrived at the 70th floor and could not help but smirk at the sight of the enemy forces. Not even a quarter of Andromalius’s army had appeared. The numbers were far fewer than anticipated.
‘Has he truly managed to completely split the forces on the 70th floor?’
Aaron Raiders. A powerful figure capable of building a significant force on the 70th floor would not have been easy to persuade. Yet, having seized a clear opportunity, he managed to persuade them and stirred them into rebellion in a short time…
At this point, the information-gathering, execution abilities, and strategies of Nahun were becoming intimidating. The advisor, the sage Baphomet, spoke to her in a chilling voice.
“Your Majesty, that Nahun is dangerous.”
“…Yes, you’re right.”
“You should eliminate him now if possible…”
“Baphomet, if that were possible, wouldn’t I be doing nothing?”
Citri remembered the immense power she had seen from Nahun before and shuddered. Just recalling that immense iceberg sent chills down her spine. She warned Baphomet, who seemed unaware.
“Don’t touch that. If you mess up, the 71st floor could end up like this.”
“…If you say so.”
“We just have to perform our roles well and take what we’re owed.”
Citri stepped out of the barracks and ascended to the podium, capable of viewing the soldiers lined in formation all at once.
“Soldiers! Show these followers of Andromalius your strength!”
Citri pointed to the position of Andromalius’s army.
“Deploy!!”
Hoorah!!
The soldiers’ morale soared to the heavens. With Citri’s army forming ranks, a man approached from behind her.
“…What’s going on? Why did you come over here?”
“I came to check that you were doing well.”
It was Nahun. Seere, nestled in his arms, was present too. Today, she looked even more adorable in her helmeted form, causing Citri’s heart to skip a beat.
‘Why is she so cute?’
Citri thought so internally while speaking to Nahun with as little outward emotion as possible.
“You can see it, can’t you? I’ve moved as you wanted.”
“Yes, you’ve worked hard.”
“Now it’s your turn to move, right?”
“I intend to do so.”
Nahun held Seere with both hands and presented her to Citri. Consequently, Seere and Citri locked eyes.
“Eek.”
“What, what is it?”
“Please take care of her. It will only be for a moment.”
“What?”
“I have many things to take care of with Seere in tow.”
At Nahun’s words, Seere pouted.
“I want to go with the teacher!”
“It won’t take long. Just wait a moment.”
“Mm….”
Nahun pulled out the whale plushie he had given to Seere from his pocket.
‘How did that fit in the pocket?’
Citri looked on in a somewhat incredulous manner, but Nahun paid it no mind, handing the doll to Seere as he spoke.
“Play with this for a bit, and I’ll be back right away.”
Nod, nod.
“Your Majesty Citri, please take good care of her. I need to go.”
“Uh, um….”
Citri, suddenly entrusted with Seere, looked at her in surprise. Seere’s big, innocent eyes looked at her with an untouched, pure gaze, causing Citri’s expression to involuntarily soften.
‘So cute….’
As Citri unintentionally smiled, Nahun chuckled and said.
“Then, please take good care of her.”
In the blink of an eye, Nahun vanished. Surprised by his speed, Citri looked around, and Baphomet spoke to her.
“Your Majesty Citri, this is….”
An opportunity. A chance to eliminate the Demon King of the 72nd floor and disrupt their forces. Citri understood that as well. But Nahun could not have been unaware of it. He entrusted her with Seere while knowing everything.
That meant Nahun was currently testing her. To see if Citri would still consider maintaining an alliance in the future or not. He might even be watching from somewhere right now.
Citri squeezed her eyes shut for a moment before opening them and said.
“…If you’re planning any tricks, stop. Baphomet. From now on, treat me with the utmost respect.”
“Understood.”
Citri contemplated Seere, who was playing with the white bear and whale plushies in her arms.
‘Why, of all things, a whale?’