I Was Abandoned by the Demon King I Served for 10 Years

Chapter 11

"Break their formation! Kill them all!"

"Hold the line! Do not retreat!"

"The Regent has commanded us to hold our ground! Fight to the death!"

As the Expedition Force advanced into the Southern interior, the war intensified. Sporadic battles erupted incessantly, almost daily. Aside from the army led by the Great Chieftain Gullan, the South was home to countless ununified tribes, and every incursion into their lands was met with resistance.

"They dared to rebel against His Excellency. Cut off all their heads and hang them on stakes."

However, these were merely small-scale skirmishes. The tribal warriors who bravely drew their swords against Durin mostly met their end impaled on stakes. With every heavy step of the Expedition Force's boots, countless stakes and ruins were left in their wake. The scorched-earth tactics employed in the border regions were carried out in a simplified manner.

It was only after erasing six tribes from the map and increasing the number of slave soldiers to 1,500 that the Southern resistance began to weaken. They realized that, apart from Gullan's forces, they had no organized means to oppose the invaders. The choices left to them were submission or death.

"All hail. My lord."

"Our tribe will accept the rule of the castle."

Two trembling hands were raised toward the sky in fear. Verdia, who was in charge of the Southern front, handed over every surrendering tribe to Durin. Yet, the misfortune brought upon them by the Expedition Force showed no signs of ending.

"Your Excellency, we have completed the cleanup around Rock Mountain."

"We have selected several demons suitable to serve as guides. The Golden Guardians are also ready, so we can depart immediately."

"A report has arrived from Governor Aurela of the rear guard. She states that all forces, including the Royal Guard, are prepared for defense."

Everything was proceeding as planned. The forces stationed at Rock Mountain, which had been relatively lax in their defensive posture to guard the path to the capital, were easily crushed. Even the surrounding tribes, which had shown some potential for resistance, were completely annihilated. This information would undoubtedly reach Gullan as well.

The Great Chieftain would try to draw attention to himself, but as long as Verdia and Aurela stood firm, even that would not be easy.

The stalemate between the Rebel Army and the Expedition Force would persist. The Southern warriors, lacking in quality troops, had no choice but to respond cautiously to Durin's movements. The moment they avoided a direct confrontation, the inevitable problem arose. The initiative on the battlefield fell into Durin's hands.

The time gained in this way was devoted to efforts to capture and kill the Hero.

-The Ancient Gate is located within the Temple of Mother's Rock. Unlike the shrine here in Ractelrun, it is guarded by fierce Southern warriors, so entry will be extremely difficult.

The Prophetess of Oracle, upon confirming Durin's unwavering resolve, shared the information she knew without hesitation.

-Unlike the Warp used by angels or humans, the Gate created by the Demon King naturally uses magic energy as its material for spatial leaps. In other words, only those who can handle magic energy, like myself, can awaken this Warp Gate.

There was only one person in the Demon Realm with such an ability.

-The Demon King. The Gate can only be used by the Demon King. The Hero Party you are pursuing will undoubtedly remain by her side. Once they abandon the path created by the angel, this will be their only means of return.

It meant they would inevitably meet on a narrow bridge. At that moment, a question suddenly arose in Durin's mind.

-You mentioned that the Demon King is destined to return to the Human Realm.

-That's correct, Durin.

-Then, may I ask if the Hero is also bound by the same fate?

-.......

The Prophetess of Oracle did not answer immediately. It was not out of a trivial emotion like confusion.

A chilling smile spread across her face. It was closer to swelling anticipation.

-That seems to be something you hold in your hands.

"Your Excellency, we have finished clearing the temple."

The Golden Guardians approached, drenched in blood. Each of them held a severed head in their hands.

"There are no survivors. We will place all the heads on stakes."

The Temple of Mother's Rock, the most sacred place to the Southerners, met a tragic end under Durin's blade. Once a site of ceremonies, it now lay in ruins.

The offerings they had dedicated to the Mother were stained red. The headless corpses bore the full weight of their unrelenting agony.

The echoes of screams replaced prayers, filling the temple.

Durin walked among the lifeless bodies of the fallen.

"Have you found any trace of the Hero?"

"Not yet. We are inquiring through the surrendered tribes, but there are no eyewitness accounts."

"It seems they are moving more cautiously after being spotted by the Scout Demon Beast."

"Your Excellency, if necessary, we can deploy the Ghost Knights. They will surely find the Hero."

"They must be deployed across the entire Southern region. The Hero will inevitably come this way, so there is no need for unnecessary losses."

The Prophetess of Oracle had declared it. Fate would bring the two together.

"Do not worry. I will bring this to an end."

"Your Excellency, we too wish to face the King. Please grant us permission."

"Your opponents are neither the Hero nor the Previous Demon King, but the blasphemous Rebel. Stand down."

"Your Excellency."

A senior demon of the Golden Guardians bowed his head to him. Though he said no more, it was a plea. But Durin remained resolute.

"If you have a duty to protect the King, then I have a duty to protect the Demon King's Castle. For the survival of the Demon Realm, the battlefield where the Golden Guardians must be deployed is not here."

He spoke as he gazed at the statue of the Mother Rock, weeping tears of blood.

"Do you remember the first verse of the Demon Realm's law that I have repeated countless times?"

"Demons must oppose angels and rule over humans."

"Your first mission is to protect the King from the angels. Therefore...."

Durin turned his body. Before advancing toward the Gate, he addressed the assembled Golden Guardians.

"Wait for the day when a new Demon King is born. I will find a suitable candidate without delay. The task of defeating the angels alongside that individual will be your duty."

The Regent firmly dismissed them. He declared that he would first face the Hero, not the angels. The Golden Guardians knelt before Durin, who had made his decision.

"If that is your command, we will accept it, Guardian of the Castle."

"We will wait. Please restore our honor one day."

Resolute voices from behind answered the Regent's determination.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The synchronized sound of boots grew distant. The Golden Guardians left the temple and returned to the Demon Army's camp.

Left alone, Durin took his place among the hastily erected stakes. The shattered altar became his throne.

From now on, all he had to do was sit and wait for the approaching fate.

If he could not capture the Demon King, he would at least capture the Hero.

If he failed due to lack of strength, he would struggle to leave behind an eternity of suffering.

That was how demons faced their trials.

#

"Kael, are you sure this is the right way? The world is in chaos right now."

"Lucresia said it was. We have to keep moving forward."

The Demon Realm, left without its King, was engulfed in war. Every land the Hero Party passed through was drenched in blood. It seemed that in that brief moment, more demons had perished than the Holy Knights had slain in over a thousand years.

That was why their nerves were on edge. Without the protection of the Angel, the hellfire created by the Demons could engulf them at any moment.

"No matter how I think about it, it's strange. They said they could safely get us out to the Human Realm, but the place they chose is the Southern Continent of the Demon Realm, where a rebellion is happening."

"It's actually because of the chaos that we managed to slip through. If we had gone to a relatively stable continent, we might have had to fight the warlords there. Who are they fighting now?"

"... They're clashing with the main forces of the castle."

The Hero Kael calmed the party. The sudden addition of the Demon King had unsettled the atmosphere, pulling them into a swamp of distrust. If not for the years they had spent together, the cracks forming between them might have already broken them apart.

"That's right, Eily. We're on the right path now."

The Mage of the party, in particular, showed significant signs of anxiety. The looming shadow of the Demon Army constantly suffocated her. Understanding her feelings, Kael desperately tried to comfort and reassure her.

"Even so, I... I really don't know. Is this the right direction?"

"Yes. Trust me. Have I ever led you into a pit while guiding you all this time?"

"You haven't."

"I've always taken care of every little detail and dedicated myself to the party, haven't I? So, can't you trust me this time too?"

"......."

"If you're still unsure, then trust the oracle instead of me. The will of the gods clearly stated to follow the Demon King."

He placed his hands on Eily's shoulders. He helped the shrunken Mage stand tall once again.

"No matter what trials come, I'll protect you. I'll do my best to ensure everyone returns safely to the Human Realm."

This wasn't something meant only for Eily. He spoke while looking at the Elf and the Dwarf, who were keeping pace with the party.

"Hmm... Honestly, we don't have a choice. We have no option but to trust and follow."

"Elf! How can you say it like that? We're brothers, so we stick together. If we overcome this adversity, we'll surely become stronger. Our party has always grown that way."

The Dwarf Warrior pounded his chest confidently. Eily felt encouraged by his words.

Looking back, it was true. From the days when she couldn't even properly conjure a fireball and struggled as a low-level Mage, the journey that had brought her this far was fueled by their strong bond.

Trust and faith. Even if they made the wrong choice, as long as they all jumped in together and turned it into the right direction, that was enough.

"Yes. We just have to do the same this time."

"Will it really be okay, Kael? This time, I'm so scared."

"Don't crumble. You can overcome this. Let's do it together."

Kael held Eily's hand. A warm sensation spread through her. She could feel her distant mind gradually returning.

It was the comfort of a pure soul. She could once again grasp the courage she had lost.

"Oh, come on. Everyone's acting like they're in some kind of melodrama."

The Demon King in the Black Hood, who had been walking ahead alone, muttered. The Hero glanced at her and smiled faintly, cutting off her words, though she couldn't hide her expression of embarrassment.

"From here on, it's the Temple of Rock. Judging by the presence of the Demon Army nearby, it seems this place has also been caught up in the suppression of the Rebel Army. Stay sharp, or you might end up captured and torn apart by the Southern Warriors."

"Seriously, that Demon always stays quiet and only shows up at critical moments to ruin the mood."

The Elf glared at the Demon King, but she paid no attention and cheerfully moved forward. Despite all the troubles and arguments, the moment of returning to the Human Realm was drawing near. There had been days when they had to heighten their tension after being caught by a Scout Demon Beast, but they had overcome it all. They just needed to resolve this last part.

"Alright, enough of that. Let's head back now. We need to go home and get some proper rest."

With the Hero's lighthearted remark, the party entered the Temple of Rock. It was a dungeon said to house the strongest of the Southern Warriors. Even for the Hero Party, letting their guard down here could lead to their downfall. Moreover, this place was deep within enemy territory. If things went wrong, they might not get a second chance.

"......."

Knowing this well, the party remained silent. The Demon King was no exception.

It was undoubtedly the Temple of Rock. They had followed the Demon King's guidance correctly, so there was no way they were mistaken. All they had to do was find the Gate and leave, but the scene they had expected was nowhere to be found.

Whiiiiiing—

A cold wind blew, carrying the scent of blood. What greeted the party was not the robust Southern Warriors with Blue Horns but their corpses. They lay on the ground, headless. Their grotesquely twisted faces hung from poles, swaying in the wind.

"Was there a battle here?"

The Demon Realm was currently divided between castles and warlords, locked in conflict. Demons would stop at nothing to achieve victory, so it wouldn't be surprising if a battle between the Rebel Army and the Demon Army had occurred here. But something felt different.

For Demons, battle achievements were measured by the number of heads taken. Trophies were essential for elevating their honor and accomplishments. Therefore, severed heads shouldn't have been left here.

The scene before them was not the result of a battle. It was merely a site of slaughter.

"... Who could have done this?"

Eily looked around, falling into doubt. The scene, which seemed more like an outburst of rage, was beyond her comprehension. It was unlike the behavior of Demons she had known, leaving her tense.

At that moment.

"Everyone, brace yourselves."

The Demon King, who had been silent, spoke. Her yellow eyes, visible through the Black Hood, were calmer than ever. But it was a calmness that bordered on fear. The woman once hailed as the strongest in the Demon Realm was afraid. The one who hadn't flinched even against an Archangel.

Once again, the wind blew.

Whiiiiiing—

The scent of blood grew stronger. Mixed within it was Magic Energy. A discomfort that seemed to drag them into the depths of the abyss enveloped the party. Everyone felt the same ominous presence.

Four pairs of eyes looked at one another. Slowly, they all turned to face the same direction.

At the center of the blood-soaked temple. In front of a statue weeping tears of blood, there was a shattered altar. Sitting alone there was a knight in Black Armor, exuding an oppressive aura over the party.

Kael knew exactly who he was. As a Hero who had spent his life fighting Demons, he had heard countless rumors about him.

"Skull Crusher Durin...."

The overwhelming energy emanating from him began to engulf the world.

A legendary Great Demon who had never experienced defeat against an Angel and had even slain the Angel Warrior Chief of Heaven.

Just as the rumors described, he emitted a crimson glow from his eyes, waiting for the party to arrive at this place.