Chapter 7

Chapter 7 – Bullying Within the Party (4)

“No, why is the Princess here… Could it be that the Princess was kidnapped by the Demon King?”

“No. So you didn’t know either.”

The fact that the Empire had hidden her disappearance even from those closest to her,

Eileen gave a faint bitter smile and shook her head.

“I came here on my own feet. Look at my clothes. I’ve Fallen to the Demon King’s Army, haven’t I?”

“That can’t be…”

Seoyun’s gaze quickly swept over Eileen’s Mana Circuit.

‘Could it be, she is being controlled?’

But,

There was no mental domination by magic, nor any confusion curse.

There was no trace of a contract bound by restraint either.

Rather, the flow of Mana was far more stable than when seen in the Imperial Palace, and the Princess’s face, always weighed down by fatigue, looked at ease.

Eileen noticed Seoyun’s gaze scanning her Mana but did not stop it.

“Now, have you checked everything?”

“I-I’m sorry, Princess.”

“It’s fine. I would have doubted me too.”

Eileen waited until Seoyun was convinced, then opened her mouth.

“The one who asked the Demon King to scout you, Seoyun, was me.”

“Scout…?”

Seoyun’s expression hardened.

“Then Riv is…”

Seoyun’s trembling finger pointed at Riv.

“You deceived me from the beginning? Were you really a turncoat?”

Riv opened her mouth but could not speak, and closed it again.

“I’m sorry. Actually…”

The Disguise magic that had wrapped around her body scattered.

Black wings spread from her back, and small horns revealed themselves above her head.

“I, actually, am not human. I am of the Demon Race.”

“…!”

“Approaching the party was to make you Fallen, Seoyun.”

Riv realized she could no longer hide it.

And that she must no longer lie in order to make her understand.

“Was treating me, carrying my tool bag, and taking my side all acting?”

Riv clutched the hem of her robe tightly at Seoyun’s question.

She could not bring herself to look Seoyun straight in the eyes.

“At first, yes.”

“Ah…“

Seoyun’s expression froze.

“But saving you when I saw you being tortured was not an order!”

Riv raised her head with difficulty and spoke as if shouting.

Her eyes were red and wet.

“That was because I couldn’t hold back. In that moment, I didn’t think about the mission or Fallen. I just thought you shouldn’t be left there. I couldn’t watch.”

Seoyun gave no answer to Riv’s excuse.

She wanted to believe those words exactly as Riv said them.

But they were also the words of someone who had deceived her.

And she was not human, but Demon Race, Demon King’s Army.

“It was all lies! Even now, how am I supposed to believe that?”

She had been a comrade she relied on, even if only briefly.

The fact that the kindness had another purpose from the beginning hurt more than Chloe’s Torture Magic.

Riv could not even make an excuse.

“…I’m sorry.”

“Then now, are you planning to kidnap me?”

Just then, Eileen, who had been listening to the two, shook her head.

“This is emergency protection for now. You will receive treatment, eat, sleep well, and then we will talk slowly.”

“What if I refuse the contract?”

“Then you don’t have to contract.”

Eileen gently persuaded Seoyun.

But,

“Princess, how am I supposed to believe that?”

“It’s okay if you can’t believe it. We deceived you first, Seoyun.”

“However, you checked directly that I was not under mental domination, and that I put on these clothes by my own will. I am not telling you to trust the Demon King’s Army right now. I mean only that you should take time to judge the choice I made first in crossing over to the Demon King’s Army.”

Seoyun was confused.

Princess Eileen, who had protected her until now, was wearing the clothes of the Demon King’s Army.

‘Fallen to the Demon King’s Army…’

It might be a wrong choice that could never be undone.

Bang!

Kuwuuung!

A tremendous gust blew in from afar along with a roar.

The eye-smile of Erica, who had been smiling leisurely beside her, disappeared.

“The Empire’s pursuit team has arrived here.”

“Pursuit team…?”

“Commander Hadowk came personally. With the 1st Battalion.”

The Communication Magic Tool in Erica’s arms vibrated.

-Erica, leave immediately. That is safe.

A low voice ringing through the air, it was the Demon King.

-I will stop Hadowk and the Imperial Knights. Return with the protection targets.

The communication cut off.

Seoyun looked toward the direction of the roar with a pale face.

“The Demon King… is here?”

“Yes.”

Eileen answered.

“Judging by the situation alone, it is natural to feel it like a kidnapping.”

Eileen looked at Riv once, then said,

“Riv skipped the formal procedure, and the responsibility lies with the Demon King’s Army. But if you had been left there, you would have been hurt much worse, Seoyun.”

Bang!

Once again, a tremendous explosion echoed.

“However, staying here now is not an option. The Imperial Army is arriving. Seoyun, please trust the long time we have shared and take this hand.”

Eileen held out her hand toward Seoyun.

“At the very least, I don’t want to send you back to the Imperial Knights. Seoyun, I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you. Truly.”

“…”

…

The border between the Demon Realm and the Empire.
On a narrow path in the Wasteland, the Demon King in black armor stood alone.

The Imperial Knights filled the space before him.

The horses that had pursued until late night exhaled rough breaths into the air, and the white cloaks of the knights riding them had been darkened by the dust of the Wasteland.

At the front were the 1st Battalion and Commander Hadowk.

Behind them stood Hero Goodwill and the 2nd Battalion party that had escaped the Dungeon.

“Demon King!”

Hadowk pointed his sword at the Demon King.

“Hand over the Guide you kidnapped!”

“Kukuku, kidnapping… Is it kidnapping?”

The Demon King laughed, his red eyes flashing.

Hadowk frowned at the Demon King’s laugh and shouted.

“First the Princess, and now her Guide. Your scheme is obvious… Are you going to kidnap the Empire’s people one after another like that?”

“One changed jobs, and one was rescued from an assault. Your attitude of taking them back like possessions without even asking their own will is unpleasant.”

“All subjects of the Empire are under the Emperor’s protection!”

Hadowk’s voice echoed through the entire Imperial Knights.

“To be loyal to the homeland and devote oneself to His Majesty the Emperor. That is the reason for life for one born in the Empire!”

“And so you dragged them here without even rest?”

The Demon King scanned the knights behind Hadowk.

“A half-day forced march followed immediately by battle. What about meals?”

“We are on a mission.”

“Rest?”

“We cannot rest with the enemy and a traitor before us.”

“What about hazard compensation for meeting me, the Demon King?”

“A knight’s loyalty is not traded for money!”

Hadowk raised his sword toward the Imperial Knights.

The knights behind him responded to Hadowk’s gallant shout.

“No price on their lives. You say so smoothly that there is no night pay or travel pay. Is this what they call Passion Pay? Since it’s the Imperial Knights, it must be Loyalty Pay? Kuhahaha!”

“If you think you can stall for time with wordplay, it is useless. All troops, prepare throwing spears!”

The knights in the rear all at once created spears of light.

“Fire!”

Dozens of magic spears flew toward the Demon King.

The Demon King stepped forward and stretched out his hand.

Crimson Mana from the Demon King’s hand turned into a wall.

Sarrrr-

The spears of light scattered and disappeared against the Mana Barrier before even reaching the Demon King.

“Then I will ask something else.”

The Demon King calmly blocked the attack and asked in a more chilling voice than before.

“What did you pay to the families of the knights who died to the giant monsters in the last Northern Expedition?”

“His Majesty the Emperor personally bestowed the Honorary Medal.”

“Does that Honorary Medal become dinner for children left without a father and mother?”

Several knights’ eyebrows twitched faintly.

But those standing at the front of the 1st Battalion immediately raised their swords and shouted.

“Nonsense! Glory to the Empire!”

“Loyalty and devotion!”

“For the Empire!”

Fanatical Imperial Knights slogans filled the valley.

“Kuku, yes. Splendid.”

When the Demon King sneered at the Imperial Knights, Hadowk’s face reddened with rage.

“Vile sophistry of the Demon Race! For a knight, dying in duty is the highest honor, and for the remaining family it is a pride passed down for generations! Do not insult it!”

“-Glory?-“

The Demon King’s voice crushed the Imperial Knights’ slogans.

“The Demon King’s Army guarantees survivors’ pensions and housing for the families of the fallen. It also takes responsibility for the children’s education. Injured soldiers receive pay until treatment is finished, and if they wish, they are transferred to rear duties. Hazard pay and night pay are separate. How about it, isn’t this better than hollow glory?”

The Demon King sneered chillingly at the Imperial Army.

“Our Demon King’s Army does not use a single life for free.”

“How dare you try to buy loyalty with money! It is a demon’s temptation. Do not listen to the Demon King’s sophistry!”

“Kukuku, better than those who use precious lives for free. When the Imperial Army dies, aren’t they treated as someone else’s sons and daughters? Our Demon King’s Army is different from your Imperial Army!”

At the Demon King’s words, Hadowk roared and swung his sword imbued with holy power.

“Shut that mouth! Demon King!”

Kwaaang!

The Demon King caught Hadowk’s slash head-on with one hand.

“Do not insult our Imperial Knights’ loyalty with any more sophistry.”

“Hmm…“

The two men’s gazes clashed fiercely as they glared at each other.

There was no one here who would be persuaded by just a few words.

Demon King Doyun knew that too.

“Yes. Let’s stop here.”

The Imperial Knights were people with the strongest convictions in the Empire.

They believed their family and hometown survived thanks to the Empire’s grace, and therefore took pride in their hardships.

Hadowk’s Imperial Knights was a place where people lived with the pride of protecting their hometowns through their sacrifices.

He could not brainwash Hadowk’s subordinates with a few words.

-Leave. Erica. More Imperial Army troops are gathering.

-Yes. I am preparing the Demon King’s Portal.

Steal Hadowk’s pursuit time.

That was the purpose.

Once again, the Demon King provoked Hadowk.

“By the way, what a pathetic attack.”

The Imperial Knights stirred.

Hadowk’s sword was one of the Empire’s finest Holy Swords.

It had once split and collapsed an entire castle wall.

Yet the Demon King’s feet did not yield even an inch to that slash.

“Did you intend to lay a hand on my employee with only this much power?”

Hadowk gritted his teeth.

“All troops, form ranks! This is an opportunity! We will subdue the Demon King here!”

The knights simultaneously drew swords, shields, bows, and Staffs, entering battle formation.

‘Indeed… Hadowk’s subordinates are properly trained.’

Once the formation was ready, Hadowk kicked off the ground first and took the lead.

Kang!

Hadowk’s brightly shining sword and the Demon King’s black greatsword collided.

Once again, the Demon King did not budge.

In individual power, the Demon King was clearly superior.

But Hadowk did not fall to the Demon King’s sword strike either.

“First rank, advance!”

While Hadowk held his ground, holy knights with shields began to surround the Demon King.

Whoom!

Kang!

Hadowk withstood the Demon King’s sword strike once again.

But the shield formation surrounding him was pushed back entirely by the shockwave of that horizontal strike.

“Hold!”

“Do not let the Demon King escape!”

Those who took the impact were pushed to the rear, but the next rank instantly filled the empty spots.

“Bind him!”

At Hadowk’s shout, magic chains from the Imperial Knights’ mages flew in from multiple directions and wrapped around the Demon King’s arms and greatsword.

Chwarararak!

“Where do you think you’re going.”

Pajik!

Pajik!

The moment he cut one, two other lines bound his legs and shoulders.

“Keep attacking! Do not stop!”

Hadowk’s command.

When one person was pushed back, the next filled the spot.

“Hmm…“

The Demon King was conserving his strength.

If he unleashed wide-area magic, he could completely destroy the formation before him.

But,

This matter was not an all-out war,

It was to rescue and bring back Seoyun and Riv alive.

‘For complete Brainwashing into the Demon King’s Army, I must not create any more grudges.’

Bang!

The Demon King exploded his Mana and pushed the shield soldiers far away.

The opening that appeared in that moment.

Hadowk did not miss it.

Hadowk, enduring the Mana explosion, swung his sword, and the Demon King’s black armor was grazed on the shoulder.

Kaang!

A shallow scratch appeared on the Demon King’s armor.

“Commander, impressive. To withstand me head-on.”

“I have never ordered a subordinate to do something I would not do.”

Hadowk raised his sword again.

“I run first and fight at the very front. That is why they follow me. No matter what words you use to tempt them, our Imperial Knights will not collapse.”

“I know.”

The Demon King broke all the remaining mage chains with sheer strength.

“Hadowk, yes. I too find the 1st Imperial Knights you lead troublesome.”

Kwaang!

The Demon King once again neutralized all the Imperial Knights charging at him with a Mana wave.

Kwak.

The Demon King lifted Hadowk by the scruff of his armor with one hand and said,

“But can those who follow someone like you keep following you to the end without tiring?”

“Kuh… Yes. Our Imperial Knights will follow me.”

The surrounding space sank heavily, and the flow of the Demon King’s Crimson Mana twisted.

“…?”

“Hehehe. Demon King, you have finally been caught.”

Pak!

Taking advantage of the wavering of the Demon King’s Mana, Hadowk escaped his grasp with graceful movement.

Demon King Doyun felt his Mana movement being suppressed more than before.

Hadowk smiled faintly for the first time.

“You installed a Mana Barrier in this area. Fast.”

“Did you think you were the only one stalling with words? You are now rats in a trap. You cannot escape.”

The Demon King smiled too.

“Kukuku, truly capable. Hadowk, I want to make you Fallen and bring you to the Demon King’s Army.”

“Shut that mouth.”

…

Pajik!

The red Portal Erica had spread was torn and extinguished.

“What is it?”

“Suddenly the flow of Mana in the air is blocked.”

“It is the Imperial Knights’ Mana Barrier…”

A roar burst again in the distance.

Every time Crimson Mana and pale blue-white Mana collided, the ground of the Wasteland trembled.

Riv looked in that direction with an anxious face.

“The Demon King cannot hold out long either. Reinforcements will keep joining the Imperial Knights.”

Eileen unfolded a map.

“Let’s find another escape route.”

Seoyun looked at Eileen.

There would be no other escape route now.

If this Barrier was discovered, they would be caught by the Imperial Knights.

Seoyun cautiously asked Eileen.

“If I fix the Portal… we will go to the Demon King’s Castle, right?”

“You are not with the Demon King’s Army, Seoyun. And you are a patient.”

Even knowing she had the ability, Eileen did not try to force her to use it because they were in danger.

“No. I can fix it.”

Eileen turned her head at Seoyun’s words and looked at her.

“If I fix the Portal, we will go to the Demon King’s Castle, right?”

“Yes.”

“And I can refuse the contract there too?”

“I promise. We will send you to a safe neutral area.”

“Even if I say I want to return to the Empire?”

At Seoyun’s question, Eileen was silent for a moment.

“I won’t stop you. However, I will explain all the punishment and danger you will face if you return. After that, you decide, Seoyun.”

Seoyun looked again at Eileen’s Mana flow.

There was no curse. There was no mental domination.

The person who had always been weighed down by fatigue in the Imperial Palace was standing there wearing the Demon King’s Army uniform by her own will.

The one who first acknowledged her talent as a Transmigrator in the Empire and gave her a mission was also Eileen. Eileen was like a benefactor to Seoyun.

She could not trust the Demon King’s Army.

She could not completely forgive Riv either.

But if she stayed like this, she would be caught by Hadowk.

Seoyun looked at the magic circle of the extinguished Portal.

“I do not mean I will join the Demon King’s Army. I just want time to make a proper choice.”

Eileen nodded.

“For that, we first need to survive and get out of here.”

Seoyun staggered toward the Portal magic circle.

The flow of Mana forcibly tangled in one place.

The Mana pressed down by the Barrier.

It looked complicated, but to her eyes it was merely a circuit that needed to be unraveled.

Seoyun placed her hand on the magic circle.

Then, after hesitating for a moment, she turned to Riv.

“Riv.”

“Yes?”

Riv looked at Seoyun in surprise.

“You said work is basically done in pairs.”

“…”

“Hold the Mana flow from the side.”

“Seoyun…”

“I will think about believing and forgiving later.”

Certainty returned to Seoyun’s confused eyes.

“For now, let’s survive and get out together.”

Riv hurriedly knelt beside her.

“Yes. I will help.”

Both hands simultaneously rose onto the magic circle.

Seoyun looked straight at the tangled flow of Mana.

“I will reopen this Portal soon. Please wait a little.”