NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 37
Chapter 37
Under Seere’s command, there exists a tremendously powerful military group. Although few in number, there was not a single person in any tier who did not regard them with caution.
The Fourth Legion.
They were the subordinates of Seir, the once-great Demon King who ranked second in the past. To the lower tiers, they were nothing short of a source of fear. The elite squad led by Lin El Lazine, one of Seir’s Four Swords, was indeed a cold and terrifying presence capable of achieving anything.
Of course, this was just the image known to the public, and the reality was slightly different.
“Y-Your Majesty?”
Leading the fearsome Fourth Legion, Lin displayed an incredibly human expression, flustered. This was due to the pretty girl standing right in front of her, Seere von Debata.
“Take me with you.”
“Pardon?”
The Fourth Legion was preparing to head to the 69th floor. By Nahun’s orders, they were to guide the merchants from the 69th floor to the 70th.
“Your Majesty, you wish to go with us… why is that?”
It was something she couldn’t say aloud—that she wanted to go play with the Teacher. So, Seere made up a suitable excuse in response.
“…I want to fight too.”
Upon hearing Seere’s words, Lin hesitated for a moment.
Lin was well aware of Seere’s skills, having monitored her progress. Over the past five years, she had diligently practiced swordsmanship and had reached an extraordinary level simply through her martial skills. There was no doubt Seere had the talent that proved she was indeed of Seir’s bloodline.
Furthermore, Lin could not confidently say she could win against Seere at the moment. In a straightforward sword duel, there was no question Lin would decisively defeat Seere. However, battles were not fought with swords alone.
‘The magic of Her Majesty is already…’
Having learned ancient magic from Nahun, Seere had achieved incredible growth. Just by looking at her increased red hair, one could easily see how much magic power she could wield. Honestly, deploying her on the battlefield right now would certainly be a tremendous asset to their forces.
But… Lin shook her head. There was no way Nahun would allow Seere to recklessly enter the battlefield.
“That’s not possible, Your Majesty. This operation is for us alone; there is no allowance for you to accompany us…”
“Lin El Lazine, who is the lord you serve?”
As Lin was about to refuse, Seere sickeningly played the trump card. Lin bit her lip and tried to think of a suitable excuse, but nothing came to mind. She racked her brain, her ears perked up, but it was of no use.
“…No matter what anyone says, my lord is only one person, Her Majesty Seere.”
“Then my command takes precedence, or does the Teacher’s command take precedence?”
“Your Majesty’s command takes precedence.”
“Then take me with you. That’s an order.”
Unable to withstand the trump card, Lin merely muttered incoherently and could not provide a clear answer. Seere then furrowed her brows.
“Lin El Lazine!”
“Ah, understood. But please don’t go too far ahead. If something were to happen to Your Majesty…”
“Okay, got it~.”
“…Your Majesty, you understood, right?”
“I said I understood.”
With that, Seere said as she grasped a sword in her hand. Nahun had prohibited her from using it in her childhood due to its danger, but now she had become skilled enough to wield the ‘Sword of Blood Tears’ proficiently.
Seere, sword in hand, slightly lifted the corners of her mouth.
‘Teacher, wait just a bit longer.’
We’ll handle this quickly and go play, okay?
#
As Dekarabia invaded the 69th floor, war broke out between the 68th and 69th floors. Naturally, the merchants stationed on the 69th floor all began to flee in panic.
“There’s no way the 69th floor can defeat Dekarabia!”
Dekarabia was a Demon King whose military power was as strong as Andromalius on the 70th floor. The five generals collectively known as ‘Omangseong’ under him were also famous for their exceptional skills.
Soldiers trained under such capable generals were naturally strong, and Dantalion’s hired mercenaries stood no chance against them.
“Is this all they have? Pathetic.”
Among the Omangseong, the first star, Valtazar, swung his massive great sword. Several of Dantalion’s soldiers lost their lives in an instant.
The Prime Minister watching this scene from atop the Demon King’s castle shouted.
“Y-Your Majesty! Dekarabia’s army has already reached there!”
“Unleash the cannons and cast spells! Use as many artifacts as needed if magic power is insufficient, but stop their advance!”
“The infantry is overwhelmed! The differences in levels are too great!”
“Damn it, instead of complaining, swing your swords again and cast spells again!”
Dantalion, too, had no time to remain leisurely in the audience chamber. While he was a relatively weak Demon King in terms of sheer force, his level of magical prowess was quite remarkable.
Dantalion descended from the throne and headed toward the castle walls, gathering his magic power. Furthermore, he concentrated the external magic energy floating in the air.
Then, as Dantalion’s mind materialized through magic, a magic circle appeared before him. A gigantic magic circle was etched into the palm of his hand, and he began to chant.
“Flames of hell, incinerate the enemy.”
【 Fire of hell 】
As the two lines came to an end, flames that heated up the surroundings sprang forth from Dantalion’s grasp. With a flick of his hand, the flames quickly flew off and engulfed Valtazar and his subordinates.
Kawaang!!!
As the flames struck, praises erupted from those on the castle walls.
“Y-Your Majesty, that’s amazing!”
“Indeed, it’s His Majesty Dantalion!”
“Enough flattery! Prepare for the next attack!”
Dantalion clicked his tongue as he glanced at his incompetent subordinates. Perhaps because they were talents gathered through money, there were hardly any useful ones when an emergency arose.
The only one of some use was…
“All units, form artillery formations!”
It was Leonard, the overall commander of Dantalion’s army. At that moment, Dantalion felt fortunate to have Leonard in his ranks.
Whirr!
Kwahjick!
“Wha…?”
A massive great sword flew and impaled Leonard’s face. Dantalion’s expression stiffened in horror as he found himself unable to voice a single word at the sight of this gruesome end.
“How hot. But that’s all there was.”
Valtazar, who had taken Dantalion’s flames head-on, walked out unscathed. The great sword in his hands had been thrown into Leonard’s face.
“Did you actually intend to seek an alliance with my great lord, Dekarabia, with such pathetic power, Dantalion?”
“Y-You insect…!”
Dantalion’s magic was not to be dismissed so easily. As proof, the soldiers of Dekarabia who were engulfed in flames, like Valtazar, vanished without a trace. Nonetheless, there was a reason Valtazar could walk out unharmed after taking a direct hit.
“Where do you dare speak with that mouth, surviving thanks to the magic armor!”
The magic armor had incredibly high resistance to magic, which Valtazar was wearing.
“Although I won’t deny that the grace bestowed by Lord Dekarabia saved me…”
Valtazar drew forth his great sword that was embedded in Leonard’s face and pointed it directly at Dantalion on the castle walls.
“But your weakness, unable to pierce even a mere magic armor, presents its own issue.”
“Y-You insolent brat…!”
“It seems there’s nothing left to enjoy. Time to end this…”
At that moment, Valtazar felt something strange. Instinctively, he took a step back, and his premonition proved correct.
Kwahang!!!
“Aha, dodged it. What a pity.”
A white-haired woman leaped into the heart of the battlefield. Just a glance was enough to tell she was beautiful, but something was odd about her appearance.
With a crown that was far too large for her head, a cape that greatly exceeded the size of her body, and a massive great sword that did not suit her at all, she was the very embodiment of awkwardness. Even so, she wielded the sword lightly, with a face that looked utterly unfazed.
As Valtazar and Dantalion gazed at her, they simultaneously called out the same name.
“……Seir von Debata?”
Her hair was a snowy white, interspersed with strands of red, crowned with black horns, and her blue eyes signified a certain Demonic King. This was one of the most significant features of Seir von Debata, the once-great Demon King who was ranked second in the past.
However, Seir was already dead. The two men, who had been momentarily mistaken, swiftly realized her true identity.
“Seere von Debata!?”
#
“Heh heh….”
Recognizing the opponent, Valtazar chuckled and momentarily sheathed his sword. He then greeted Seere.
“What brings the Demon King of the 72nd floor here?”
They were currently embroiled in war on the 69th floor. He believed there was no need to stir up unnecessary trouble and attract more enemies, but on the other hand, he was also prepared for a fight at any moment.
Just a moment ago, it seemed Seere had aimed directly at Valtazar with her sword.
“Was it Valtazar of Omangseong?”
“It is an honor that you remember the name of someone like me.”
“You must have brought Dekarabia’s army with you. Then I must deal with you first before I can find the time to talk with Dantalion.”
“……”
As Seere openly displayed her hostility, Valtazar’s gaze shifted. There was no need for long speeches. Valtazar was ready to eliminate anyone who opposed his lord, Dekarabia, no matter who they might be.
“The young Demon King does not know her place.”
As Valtazar once again raised his great sword, Seere slightly closed her eyes.
“In that case, conquering the 72nd floor as well would surely please my lord.”
Focus!
Valtazar launched himself forward, snapping the ground beneath him. In that instant, a single strand of Seere’s red hair lost its color and returned to its original white.
Typically, magic required time for chanting. Even Dantalion, an adept at magic, could not condense a chant into less than two phrases.
This story pertained to modern magic. Ancient magic, which was based on short and simple rune scriptures rather than lengthy chants, allowed for a far more straightforward and rapid execution compared to modern methods.
The magic power stored within Seere’s hair circled around her, glowing brilliantly.
As if painting a galaxy across the night sky.
“Fire.”
『 Ignis 』
Fwoosh!!!
In an instant, flames erupted beneath Valtazar’s feet, consuming him in fire.
“Ugh… what is this!?”
Fortunately, due to the benefits of his magic armor, he did not sustain significant injury, but Valtazar was thoroughly bewildered. A moment ago, Seere had activated her magic with a single word.
“Ugh!”
Though he found it puzzling, what mattered right now wasn’t that. Valtazar swung his great sword widely.
“Do you think you can stop me with such a flame?”
As Valtazar swung his great sword, the flames were extinguished. And at that moment, he saw a black sword slicing through the flames.
“What…?”
He felt no sign of movement or heard any footsteps. Yet somehow, Seere’s sword had reached right in front of Valtazar.
It was possible that his vision, obscured by the flames, had blocked his perception. However, it was not just Valtazar who felt this way.
‘…When did she move?’
Dantalion felt the same way. At that moment, he could not follow Seere’s movement with his eyes. It wasn’t only that he was distracted by the magic that had been unleashed through the short chant; Seere was simply too fast.
Kwahjick!!
“Gahh!!!”
The Sword of Blood Tears pierced Valtazar’s head, blood streaming from his eye. Seere quickly withdrew her blade.
Fwoosh!
Blood gushed forth, taking with it Valtazar’s right eye. Without even letting out a scream, as Valtazar’s head fell, the soldiers of the 68th floor he led plunged into chaos. They had heard nothing of the 72nd floor joining the fray, and their commander had been killed in an instant by the very Demon King leading them…
They were frozen, unable even to think of attacking Seere. Just then, an officer snapped back to reality and tried to command an attack against her.
“All units, surround that Demon King…”
“Your Majesty! What are you doing charging in alone!”
At that moment, Lin dashed in quickly, her cat ears perked up. Following her were Baruna, the vice commander, and the 4th Legion, famed throughout the 72nd floor.
With this, Dekarabia’s army, who had lost Valtazar, could no longer surround Seere. The might of the Fourth Legion was akin to a disaster for low-tier Demon Kings. It seemed they would need another of the Omangseong to come and assist who were currently conquering other regions of the 69th floor.
“Ah, Commander Lin.”
Seere waved her hand cheerfully, but upon surveying the battlefield, Lin facepalmed at the sight of what Seere had wrought.
“Your Majesty, what is this….”
Baruna, upon seeing the situation, spoke with evident amusement.
“Wow, our Majesty really did something big.”
“Baruna, be quiet!”
“Yes.”
Lin let out a deep sigh.
“At this rate, we won’t be able to avoid a direct confrontation with the 68th floor.”
“What? No way.”
Seere pointed her blood-dripping sword at the remaining soldiers of Dekarabia.
“If we kill them all, there’s nothing to worry about.”
“…Your Majesty, they are not all of them. It has been confirmed that three of the Omangseong are leading their armies out.”
“Oh, really?”
Seere pouted her lips as if disappointed and casually shifted her gaze. Where her eyes fell was upon Dantalion atop the castle walls.
“In that case, we’ll just cover the 69th floor.”
“…Pardon?”
“We were just passing through, but if Dantalion insists this much, I guess we had no choice~.”
Dantalion, who hadn’t heard what Seere was saying, did not react, but Lin expressed her disbelief.
“Your Majesty, is that even possible? How many witnesses do you think there are here?”
“Then we’ll just kill the entire 68th army and threaten Dantalion to agree. The Teacher said not to hesitate to kill and threaten when you need help.”
“…”
Lin glanced at the scale of the remaining 68th army on her right and the forces of Dantalion on her left. Then she shook her head.
“It is possible, but Nahun specifically ordered us to return without any casualties.”
“The Teacher said?”
Hearing it was Nahun’s words, Seere paused for a moment in consideration. After a brief thought, she replied succinctly.
“Then Commander, won’t you be able to handle those guys easily?”
They were the 68th army. Having lost their commander and turned into a rabble, they posed no challenge to those who had once been the second-ranked Demon King’s army.
“Yes, but then we’ll have to deal with the others…”
“I’ll take care of them.”
As those words left her mouth, several strands of Seere’s red hair simultaneously lost their color. Just like earlier, magical power adorned the surroundings around Seere like stars in the sky.
The glittering magic rapidly condensed and was manifested through a simple word from Seere.
“Collapse.”
『 Ruina 』
Kugugugu!
At that moment, Dantalion’s Demon Castle shook violently. The ground began to crumble beneath the castle due to the intense vibrations.
“Se-Seere von Debata! Are you attacking us?”
“If I hadn’t intervened, you would have been completely conquered by the 68th… don’t you want to waste me?”
Dantalion, realizing this was magic, hurriedly prepared a chant. With no time to pull external magic, he used his own magic and recited.
“Earth, reclaim your original form.”
【 Regeneration earth 】
However, Dantalion’s magic never reached the ground. Seere raised a finger toward his magic and spoke a single word.
“Release.”
『 Levare 』
At first, Dantalion could not comprehend Seere’s actions, but it only took a few seconds for him to be left aghast. Seere nullified his magic.
“H-How…!”
“Would you rather perish alongside the castle or take my hand?”
“W-What?! You want me to take your hand?”
“More precisely, it would be in the form of a vassal. But in return…”
Seere glanced behind her. Before she knew it, the soldiers of the Fourth Legion, along with Lin and Baruna, were dismantling the disorderly 68th army. As their formation collapsed, and hundreds fell, the remaining soldiers dropped their weapons, shouting for surrender.
“W-We surrender! Please, don’t kill us!”
Dantalion, following Seere’s gaze and witnessing the collapse of the 68th army, broke into a cold sweat without meaning to. The thought crossed his mind that they might meet the same fate.
“I will protect the 69th floor.”
“…”
“Considering recent circumstances, realistically, it would be better not to be stubborn, wouldn’t it? If you still want to play at being a king.”
Dantalion clenched his fist. Even now, the castle was crumbling. The ministers beside him were already tumbling to the ground, and Dantalion could barely keep his balance.
There was no more time to hesitate. It wouldn’t be surprising for the castle to collapse at any moment. Moreover, they had already lost most of their soldiers in the battle with the 68th floor.
Even if he refused the offer, death awaited him.
“Ah, I understand! I will agree! But first, this…”
“Let’s fix the attitude first, shall we? Which minister disrespects their lord like this?”
“Ugh…! I will follow Your Majesty’s words, so please stop it!”
“Alright.”
Seere smiled, snapping her fingers. The ground’s collapse ceased, and Dantalion’s Demon Castle stilled, leaning at an awkward angle.
“Now, as promised, I will drive out the 68th army. You prepare the treaty with me while you keep watch over this place.”
“…Yes.”
Seere sheathed her sword at her waist and turned around. Watching her white hair flutter lightly as if nothing happened, Dantalion felt the forgotten dread creeping back in.
“Seir… von Debata….”
Memories of the Demon King once called the pinnacle of martial prowess swirled in Dantalion’s mind, and he slumped down on the floor weakly. He helplessly instructed a minister nearby, who was at a loss.
“Prepare the reinforcement treaty….”