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

Chapter 3

The shockwaves caused by the Demon King's escape began to subside around noon.

Although not completely out of the shock, the situation was quickly stabilized as Durin took charge.

With a pillar to steady the core, the rest of the responsibility fell to the lower-ranking Demons who handled the practical affairs.

As Succubus Maids darted through the castle halls and soldiers returned to their posts, the Demon King's Castle gradually began to regain its stability.

"So, this is how it ends up."

Even the High Demons could feel the flow of events. The central chaos would not last long. With Durin holding firm, any chance for upheaval had practically vanished.

Anyone harboring subversive thoughts during this tumultuous time risked being purged outright if they caught Durin's attention.

"A Regent election in my lifetime. Truly, you live long enough, and you see everything."

"This is the first time a king has fled like this since the Celestial War."

"If it had been a defeat at the hands of an angel, that might be understandable. But running away after falling for a human Hero? Truly disgraceful."

"Still, with Durin around, there shouldn't be any issues. Didn't the Demon King intend to transfer most of her authority to him in the first place?"

"Thanks to that, he now wields power nearly equal to the Demon King's, so there shouldn’t be any immediate problems... But whether to call this fortunate or to see it as the doom of the previous era, I can't decide."

Though their laughter was hollow, even the High Demons recognized Durin’s commanding authority, just like the castle's soldiers. With such strength, they believed stability could be restored, and a new breakthrough could be found.

However, not everyone accepted the situation.

"Fortunate, you say? It seems none of you have come to your senses yet."

Rudmila Del Rakunda.

She was a noblewoman who led the largest faction among the Demon King's Castle's many leaders and was once called the left hand of the fleeing Demon King. While Durin, the right hand, suppressed others with overwhelming strength, Rudmila solidified her position in the castle with dazzling eloquence and enchantment magic.

If Durin had the Demon Army on his side, then the Shamans and the Chief Justice, who represented wisdom, supported Rudmila.

Of course, with only this level of power, she lacked the strength to face Durin head-on. But as a counterbalance, she could hinder his complete domination of the castle.

"You should assume that whatever he did to the soldiers earlier, he can do the same to us. Those of you who know Durin best should know better than to act this way."

"We’ll just stick to our usual ways. But perhaps you should start worrying about your own head first."

"Already groveling, are you? The so-called great Chief Justice of the castle, lying flat on his back like a dog. Shame on you."

Rudmila sneered as she glanced around. Those siding with Durin wore expressions as sour as if they'd bitten into something foul. Yet, none of them dared to lash out at her blatant insults.

Because everything she said was true.

For Demons, who prided themselves on fighting with honor, to be paralyzed under the guise of authority—it was too humiliating to admit they were simply afraid. Rudmila, well aware of the state they were in, looked down on them from her perch.

"Unlike you lot, I have no intention of cowering. Sit there and watch from the sidelines."

Rudmila leaned back against her chair with a mocking smile.

"As the Chief Justice said, it might be amusing to see if my head gets smashed in. Does anyone have anything they want to wager?"

Even if it meant losing her power, she resolved to resist as a true high-ranking noble. Rudmila openly raised her defiance against overwhelming authority.

- Clink, clink.

At that moment, a sound echoed from the far end of the corridor.

Durin. His arrival was imminent.

Tension began to fill the meeting room. Despite both being second-in-command, the weight each carried was starkly different.

.........

Rudmila clenched her fists tightly in secret. The King had vanished, but the remnants she'd left behind gripped the deepest roots of the Demon King's Castle. Bound by the logic of power, they could not speak out. Rudmila, though fearful, held her ground.

- I won’t surrender my power so easily.

The instinctual greed inherent to Demons etched itself into her heart once again.

Clang!

"Are you ready?"

Rudmila faced the heavy voice of an inevitable adversary.

####

At Durin's request, five individuals had gathered, including him.

The Chief Shaman, the Chief Justice, the Warehouse Keeper, the Royal Guard Commander, and the Defense Commander.

These were the core figures of the castle.

The High Demons seated around the meticulously carved obsidian round table fixed their gazes on Durin. Each pair of eyes conveyed a different emotion.

Some showed reverence, others emptiness, the weariness of the experienced, or the anxiety of the young.

But the most pronounced of all was hostility toward a rival.

"Always ready. But what can we do? You’ve already done everything yourself, so what exactly are we supposed to prepare for?"

The Chief Shaman of the Demon King's Castle, Rudmila, scoffed as she spoke. Her aura was as formidable as that of a Demon knight clad in armor. Durin and Rudmila's crimson glows clashed in the air. The oppressive atmosphere bore down on the meeting room, suffocating the other Demons as the two continued their exchange.

"My authority extends only to defending the castle and commanding the troops. I have no means to handle matters of diplomacy or administration."

"Oh, really? Is that why you suggested this so-called Regent meeting? Does it even mean anything? No, there’s something else I’m more curious about."

Rudmila leaned forward. A sharp expression adorned her face, masked by a feigned smile.

"Have you found someone to take the throne? The Previous Demon King has no heirs, and as for the Central Demons fit for the throne... didn't the Demon King eliminate all of them while arranging the succession?"

"That’s correct."

To wield absolute royal power, one must always clear out their surroundings. In the Demon Realm, where power was everything, such actions were commonplace. Rudmila pressed on with her point.

"So, in the end, it means going by rank, and someone here among us Demons will become Regent."

"That’s correct."

"And you’ve already made up your mind, haven’t you?"

"There was no need to deliberate. Only one person is suited for the role of Regent."

Durin responded without hesitation, as if everything had already been meticulously planned. The other High Demons, including the Chief Justice, visibly relaxed. However, the expression on the Chief Shaman with her crimson horns twisted in displeasure.

"So, you’ve decided unilaterally. Without consulting anyone."

"Remember that this is an emergency, Rudmila. If you have complaints, we can address them separately. It’s not wise to delay urgent matters over trivial issues."

"You call resolving everything on your own trivial? I was just as close to the King as you were. To think I’d be treated like this is absurd."

"I can see why you’d feel that way. But once you listen to me, your perspective may change."

Having said his piece, Durin gestured lightly. The young Lizardman, Spranches, who had been assisting him, received the signal and stepped forward. From his pocket, he carefully pulled out a small pouch.

"What are you up to now?"

Rudmila raised an eyebrow. Meanwhile, Spranches cautiously placed the pouch in front of Durin before retreating.

Its appearance was unimpressive, to say the least. Durin extended it toward her.

"You’ll understand once you open it."

"How can I know what this is?"

"You'll truly understand once you open it. Stop wasting time and take a look."

At Durin's heavy voice, Rudmila flinched. However, she didn't want to appear weak at this critical juncture that would decide her future position. She forced a smile without showing her unease.

"I don't like this, Durin."

Rip!

Rudmila sliced the top of the pouch with her nails, openly displaying her irritation.

As she opened the pouch indifferently, without any expectations—

"Huh?"

The Chief Shaman's hand trembled involuntarily. What caught Rudmila's eye was a dazzling reflection of light.

What sparkled under the chandelier's light was a jade seal. Though devoid of any extravagant patterns or ornaments, a name engraved on the handle gleamed in golden letters.

"You're giving that to me?"

The elderly Chief Justice, who had been silently observing the situation, raised his voice without realizing it. The others reacted similarly.

Though it was only the size of a thumb, its value was enough to astonish the gathered Demons, as it held the power to control the castle.

[Seal of the Demon King]

It was the seal the dethroned king had used to issue decrees until the previous day. A crack appeared in Rudmila's otherwise impenetrable mask.

"Why are you giving this to me?"

Her voice wavered alongside her broken expression. She tried to maintain her composure, but it wasn’t easy. The fiery glint in her eyes, which had burned brightly in defiance of Durin, dimmed as though extinguished by water. The hostility she had built up lost its direction and faltered. The High Demon's insatiable greed for power momentarily took precedence.

"No, more importantly, if I use this... does that mean—"

"If it had been possible, I would have recommended you during the Regent election meeting. Rudmila."

"Me? Why would you do that?"

"I am the castle's guardian, not an administrator. If the castle is to remain intact until the next Demon King is chosen, I thought a suitable manager would be necessary."

Rudmila closed her mouth, seemingly at a loss for words. She carefully held the Seal of the Demon King in her hand. With this, she would essentially hold all authority over the castle, except for military command.

"You, without a doubt, would be able to mend the fragmented center and restore a stable system. As the Chief Shaman of the castle, I have no doubts about your abilities."

"Do you need my Enchantment Magic and noble connections?"

"Soldiers can be controlled with a mace, but nobles cannot."

Durin remained in the same posture. In stark contrast to Rudmila's fierce display of emotions and hostility, he was calm, even to the point of stillness. She tried to probe his thoughts using her Enchantment Magic, but the red glint burning within his black helmet veiled his true intentions.

"However, the position of Regent that I hold was directly passed down by the Previous Demon King. Once it is imprinted onto the castle, it cannot be transferred to another. Instead, by handing over this seal, I am transferring the authority to govern the castle. What do you think, Chief Shaman?"

"If you answer one question, I'll accept it."

"Ask."

"Now that I have this seal, I can issue various orders to you."

"Of course, that's only natural."

"There may come a time when I have to demand sacrifices from you for the castle's sake. Will you be willing to accept them without hesitation?"

"That's a pointless question, Rudmila."

Durin replied as if the notion were absurd.

"If it's for the sake of the castle, I will gladly act."

"Even if it means your authority crumbles?"

"I don't know what you're so anxious about, but my answer remains the same. Everything moves for the Demon Realm and the castle. Nothing is more important than that."

"For a High Demon, that's such a foolish answer. I can't understand it."

"Don't try to understand, just accept it. All you need to know is that this is how things will proceed."

It was overbearing. Durin's words were practically an announcement. It was the kind of behavior Rudmila despised most. Yet, the Chief Shaman did not object.

Before she knew it, her hand had tucked the seal into her bosom. The alluring aura of authority emanating from it unconsciously drew her in.

She avoided Durin's gaze and responded.

"If you're that insistent, I suppose I have no choice but to accept."

"A wise decision. Is there anyone who opposes this arrangement?"

"......."

"Then it is decided. While I lead the military, Rudmila will oversee all internal affairs and diplomacy of the castle. Everyone is to comply."

The other Demons bowed their heads, signaling their agreement to follow the decision.

Durin surveyed the silent meeting hall before rising from his seat.

"Good. Then until the next agenda arises, manage the castle's state of emergency."

"I'll handle it well enough. You don't need to concern yourself too much with this side."

"A good response, Rudmila."

There was no unnecessary remark.

Although Rudmila answered nonchalantly, Durin left the meeting hall without looking back.

The remaining Demons hesitated before quickly following the Regent once he was fully outside.

"......."

Silence descended. Rudmila leaned back against the chair.

She felt utterly drained and needed a moment to rest. Without a word, she fiddled with the seal inside the pouch.

"What does this make me now?"

The situation had taken a strange turn. After all her bold claims of resistance, she had readily accepted the seal once it was presented.

As a High Demon, the uncontrollable desire bubbling within her fiercely provoked her.

"I don’t know anymore."

Rudmila closed her eyes.

The hard texture she felt from the pouch. The alluring Magic Energy emanating from beyond it.

The sweet scent of power was far too enticing to reject for the sake of pride and honor.