NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 271
Chapter 271
The Demon King Castle of Beelzebub was so immense that even the word “massive” felt insufficient to describe it. It was indeed a castle that perfectly suited the term “magnificent.”
This was less of a testament to Beelzebub’s lavishness and more a symbol of the power and authority the current strongest figure in the Demon World held. Considering his position and influence in the Demon World, if he truly indulged in luxury, he could build a castle even more extravagant and larger than this.
Therefore, it was not extravagance; it symbolized what kind of being he was in the Demon World. Nahun momentarily surveyed the area around the castle.
“Is that it?”
Upon spotting a guard, Nahun approached. As Nahun drew near, the guards crossed their spears, blocking the entrance.
“This is the castle of His Majesty Beelzebub von Deus. Uninvited guests may not enter.”
“I have come with a message from the guard to seek permission from His Majesty to go to Hell. Is His Majesty currently in the castle?”
“Huh? What business do you have in Hell?”
“I have something to discuss for a moment.”
Traveling from the Demon World to Hell wasn’t frequent, but it wasn’t entirely nonexistent either. Some merchants who directly interacted with the Grand Demon boldly traded with great demons and frequently crossed over.
“Did you come from the merchant guild?”
The guard’s question piqued Nahun’s interest slightly. The mention of a merchant guild hinted at a connection with dealings in Hell.
“Yes. I come from the Oliva Guild.”
“The Oliva Guild? That guild doesn’t trade items from Hell.”
“Oh, that’s true. I came this time to expand our trading contacts.”
Nahun smoothly countered the soldier’s statement. It hadn’t occurred to him that a mere guard would know the names of merchant guilds.
‘…Does that mean they manage things thoroughly?’
The soldier nodded slightly at Nahun’s assertion about seeking to expand his trading contacts in Hell.
“If it’s about guild matters, you need not meet His Majesty. If you go around to the right, there should be a small door. The entry for guild members is managed there, so you may proceed.”
“Thank you for the directions.”
It seemed that there were subordinates authorized by Beelzebub to manage this separately. Nahun thought it was convenient not to have to meet Beelzebub and walked in the direction the soldier indicated.
After walking a bit, he indeed found a small door, and there were already some who had arrived before him. Unsurprisingly, they were all merchants, including members from famous guilds in the Demon World.
‘Aquilus Guild…’
There it was, the largest guild in the Demon World, adorned with an eagle emblem. Nahun had previously shared information about them with Bernet, and they were still active, which was intriguing.
‘Are they gathering more evidence? Time is stalling.’
By the way, they were rumored to be meddling in the human realm, and it seemed they were also conducting business in Hell. A guild that spanned the human realm, Demon World, and Hell… it truly deserved the title of the largest guild in the Demon World.
“…?”
Then Nahun felt a sudden curiosity. Just recently, he had met Archangel Camiel, who had certainly detected the use of a portal and attacked Ersha, who was creating a base in the human realm.
However, according to Iris, the Aquilus Guild had been trading in the human realm for some time prior. If so, it was reasonable to assume they had used portals, so why hadn’t Camiel mentioned anything about that?
‘Could it be from Hell?’
It might make sense if the Great Demons allowed their guild to freely enter the human realm, but…
“…Is that too far-fetched?”
The Great Demons did not concern themselves so much with the lower-ranked demons. To them, even the demons were regarded as mere beasts, while lower-tier demons were worse than insects.
‘I need to find out how the Aquilus Guild comes and goes in the human realm.’
With that conclusion, Nahun stood at the back of the line. There weren’t too many people, so he thought his turn would come soon after a brief wait.
“I’ll be up soon.”
#
However, he would later realize that this was a mistaken assumption. It had already been over 10 hours since he started waiting, and only five people had moved ahead of him in the line. Each person’s process took nearly over two hours.
“…What on earth are they doing?”
Nahun absentmindedly muttered when the man in front of him seemed to hear him and laughed heartily.
“Haha, is this your first time here?”
“Ah… yes, actually it is.”
With a friendly tone in response, he explained to Nahun with a still kind expression.
“They’re conducting 101 questions inside right now. Each person must answer them all.”
“…101 questions?”
Upon hearing this, Nahun’s eyes widened in disbelief. The 101 questions; this was a mechanic from the original game, Ebel Queen Maker, when raiding the first floor of Beelzebub.
As they approached the last floor, players had to resolve the 101 questions based on their knowledge from prior gameplay in order to enter. It might seem very tedious, but clearing it once during the first main route would allow players to bypass it in subsequent route guides, making it a worthwhile challenge.
However, now that the game world had become reality and the layers were connected by portals, he had thought such features would have disappeared. Yet here it was, implemented in this way. He didn’t know if the types of questions were the same, but it certainly seemed intriguing.
“Yes, it’s indeed 101. They say it’s to make sure that those crossing to Hell don’t have any dangerous purposes or ideologies. The questions also change each time, so you must always answer correctly to enter Hell.”
“…I see, thanks for letting me know.”
It seemed the questions and answers changed every time. 101 questions; Nahun thought it would be quite a hassle, glancing at the three people still ahead of him.
“Not everyone passes through, I suppose.”
“Hm? That’s about right. But for those accustomed to dealing with great beings, it should be easy enough to answer the questions.”
“What if they’re not used to it?”
“It might be a bit tough. Since you said it’s your first time, it could be challenging for you.”
He mentioned the questions regarding ideologies and intentions. Nahun thought it over carefully before asking.
“So when demons occasionally come down from Hell, how do they return?”
“I can’t tell you that. I’m not someone who lives on the first floor either.”
“Hmm.”
Considering the answer, Nahun thought about revealing his identity as a demon to enter but decided against it since he didn’t get a clear response. He chose to wait patiently for his turn, which eventually came six hours later.
“Next, please enter.”
Just as he thought it was his turn, a strange sound suddenly emerged from inside the door.
“Please!! Please let me in this time! I messed up just one answer…!!”
“Come back tomorrow.”
“If I can’t make this trade, I’ll be kicked out of the guild!! Please just once…!!”
“Guards.”
A cold voice flowed from inside.
“Throw him out.”
“Yes.”
The one being dragged out by the guards was the man who had readily spoken to Nahun earlier. It was a familiar face, but without giving it much thought, Nahun glanced away and turned his attention back to the person inside.
‘…An familiar face.’
Nahun recognized him. He was one of the “Four Fiends,” Beelzebub von Deus’s most trusted subordinates.
The Four Fiends were counterparts to the “Four Swords” led by the former Seir von Debata. This had been established since the original game, and they appeared quite similarly within the game itself.
Among them, standing before Nahun right now was undoubtedly the figure that corresponded to the divine sword Altair, the most notable among Seir’s Four Swords…
‘…The Sword Demon Shimwan.’
He was an individual firmly holding the highest position among Beelzebub’s powerful subordinates. Maybe even Lin El Lazine, the most powerful general under Seere, couldn’t compete with him.
‘Can Iris contend with him?’
Though she had lost an arm, she had acquired a cheat-like weapon. Even so, he wasn’t entirely sure. She might fall behind more than he expected.
Nahun felt quite intrigued. With a look of interest, he entered the room and exchanged greetings with Shimwan.
“Greetings.”
“Welcome. Please have a seat.”
Nahun had been wondering why Beelzebub didn’t manage the entry to Hell personally, but if it was someone of this caliber, it made sense that he would be handling inspections on behalf of Beelzebub. There couldn’t be many subordinates trusted to that extent.
“What guild are you affiliated with?”
“The Oliva Guild.”
“The Oliva Guild is not currently trading in Hell; did you come to expand your business?”
“That’s correct.”
“Do you have the seal of the guild master?”
Nahun hesitated. He hadn’t expected such a thing to be necessary. After a moment of contemplation, he considered saying he didn’t prepare it but suddenly remembered something and produced it.
“I wasn’t aware that I needed a seal, but I have something that proves I’ve come from the Oliva Guild.”
“…What is it?”
“This.”
Nahun presented a business card stamped with Bernet’s seal. It was not an ordinary business card handed to others, but one given by the guild master to those who would substitute for him.
He had possessed this because Bernet had given it to him after requesting that he handle matters for the guild in case something happened to him, as they had been trading together for a long time.
“I have been delegated full authority concerning this transaction by the guild master.”
Shimwan looked at the business card Nahun handed him for a moment before passing it to the subordinates behind him.
“…Verify it.”
“Yes.”
The subordinates checked for the possibility of forgery, but as expected, it was genuine.
“The seal belonging to the guild master of Oliva is indeed verified.”
Shimwan nodded in acknowledgment.
“Confirmed. But next time, it would be wise to bring the seal and a request form for the trade. That way, the verification will be faster.”
“I will be sure to remember.”
“Then this will be your first time with the questions.”
“Yes.”
“Well, if you wish to trade, it would be best to answer carefully. There is no time limit, so take your time to contemplate your answers.”
“Understood.”
Shimwan met Nahun’s gaze. Then he asked him.
“What are the items you wish to trade?”
“My goal is to supply entertainment items to Hell.”
“Who is the trade target?”
“For now, I am aiming for Lady Gamaliel. If possible, I would like to find more trading partners.”
Nahun fabricated a narrative as he spoke. He even invoked the name of a great demon. Despite audaciously using the names of the great demons to lie, Nahun remained completely composed.
Unlike the demons who trembled with fear merely upon hearing the names of their kind, Nahun, who was already a great demon himself, had no qualms about using the names of other great demons. Moreover, it was partly true; Nahun was indeed bound for the ninth Kliroft, named Gamaliel.
The 101 questions generally asked whether there would be any potential issues with the trade and with whom the trading intentions were aimed, asking more specific and detailed questions. Although there were some differences from the 101 questions in the game, Nahun adeptly responded.
Despite the questions being numerous and lengthy, Nahun didn’t contemplate excessively, allowing the Q&A to progress quickly.
“…I’ve never seen someone answer so quickly.”
“Is that so? Am I being too nonchalant in my answers?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Following this, Shimwan continued to pose questions to Nahun, and he skillfully responded without error amidst various fabricated lies. Soon, it came to the last question.
“This is the final question. Having come this far, if you answer this correctly, you will be granted entry to Hell.”
“Understood.”
“I will now ask the question.”
Shimwan closed the Q&A sheet. Then he looked at Nahun and asked.
“Where does the sun rise?”
“……”
Nahun almost let out a snicker at that moment. Was this even a relevant question? But that wasn’t why he was smiling.
The intent of this question wasn’t to confirm the obvious fact that the sun rises in the east. It aimed to reinforce the name of the owner of this place, the first floor, and to filter out those who might harbor other thoughts about their lord.
Only such individuals could cross into Hell and conduct trades. The reason Nahun knew this so well was that this question was the most famous among the 101 questions mentioned in the game. In the game, Beelzebub similarly employed these questions in the main gate’s puzzle to restrict entry to the first floor.
In truth, if one didn’t truly serve Beelzebub, interpreting the question easily wouldn’t be straightforward at all. However, having experienced it through the game, Nahun internally chuckled while maintaining a subtle smile and replied.
“It rises here.”
“……”
Shimwan pulled out a piece of paper from the side. He wrote something on it, stamped it with a seal, and handed it to Nahun.
“This is your entry permit. The gates of Hell will be controlled for a while, so you must keep it on you when you wish to use it.”
“Understood.”
Having obtained what he had sought, Nahun happily thanked Shimwan and exited the door. He did feel curious about how Beelzebub might react had he answered differently, especially concerning subjects he seemed sensitive towards, but unfortunately, there wasn’t time for that.
‘I need to hurry to Hell and return.’
That child must still be waiting eagerly.
“I’ll be back soon.”
#
As Nahun headed toward Hell, Seere had spent considerable time preparing for the duel per Marbas’s orders. She managed her condition with ample rest while also training individually and receiving personal swordsmanship guidance from Lin… In the midst of this, Seere suddenly asked Lin.
“Lin.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“By any chance, do I have a sweet scent or something?”
“…Huh? A sweet scent?”
Lin tilted her head for a moment before asking.
“Did you put on some perfume? You don’t seem to have any scent at the moment…”
“Hmm, I thought so. The teacher must have been mistaken about something.”
“Did Nahun say that?”
“Yeah, he just mentioned I smelled sweet… Ah, haha, that’s a strange thing to say, isn’t it?”
Recalling the events from her vacation, Seere blushed and awkwardly laughed. Seeing Seere’s demeanor, Lin thought of something, her eyes rolling slightly.
And then…
“Ah!!”
Suddenly startled, Lin caught Seere’s attention with a slightly strange look.
“Lin, are you exhausted from guiding me?… You seem very tired.”
“Oh, no. That’s not it, but you mentioned that scent was coming from your body, right?”
“I didn’t notice it. It must be something the teacher noticed…”
“…Hmm, indeed…I think there’s only one possibility.”
“Hmm? Do you know something?”
When Seere innocently asked, Lin seemed a little flustered. She glanced around before stepping closer to Seere.
“May I intrude for a moment?”
“Is this something that needs to be kept quiet?”
“…I would prefer it that way.”
“Really? Okay… so what is it?”
Seere was waiting eagerly, as if unable to contain her curiosity, her eyes sparkling like when she was a child. Seeing her innocent eyes, Lin felt a momentary hesitation before she decided she couldn’t speak.
“…The head maid would know.”
“Hmm?”
At Lin’s response, Seere looked at her as if questioning what that meant.
“You’re saying this as if you know something?”
“…Upon further thought, it seems that’s not the case.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Seere pouted her lips in disappointment at Lin’s answer. Seeing her, Lin slightly closed her eyes.
‘How could I say this?’
Although Seere herself had no idea, it was due to the excessively stimulating sweet scent wafting from her body that Lin wanted to address this matter.
It was understandable, given that Lin had known Seere since she was little and had served her as a loyal retainer. It wasn’t merely a typical lord-retainer relationship; she was a figure leading her troops. How could a retainer…
‘…Say that their lord is in heat, wanting to have children.’
She couldn’t bring herself to speak such irreverent words. Not only female demon lords but also male demon lords shared this common trait. Female demon lords exuded such scents when they desired to bear children, while male demon lords showed similar scents when their breeding instincts were awakened.
Lin knew this due to hearing from the former queen shortly after giving birth to the current Seere, that her husband had also given off that scent.
“…Huh?”
Caught up in her thoughts, Lin suddenly came up with a question.
“Your Majesty.”
“What is it, Daejeong?”
“Your Majesty, may I ask just one thing?”
“Is it because I didn’t tell you, and you’re asking me instead?”
Lin looked apologetic and tried to gauge Seere’s reaction. Seeing this, Seere let out a small sigh.
“What is it?”
“It may sound irreverent to ask something like this, but I must confirm it: have you spent the night with Nahun during your vacation?”
“Wha…? Why would you ask that, Daejeong?!”
“Really? Ah, it’s just… I must confirm it…”
“Oh, today Lin is acting strange!! Let’s end our training here, go rest! I’ll do the same!”
Face burning red, Seere tucked her sword away and ran away from the training grounds. Though Lin didn’t hear the answer, she could tell from Seere’s reaction that she was convinced.
“……Huh.”