Suicide Before Defeating the Final Boss

Suicide Before Defeating the Final Boss – 106

EP.106 Duke Reltra

Jeong-hyeon couldn’t help but chuckle at Shin Si-ah’s sudden attempt to provoke him.

‘Does she really expect me to say I don’t like it?’

Naturally, he wanted to say he did. However, before he could respond, Shin Si-ah quickly stepped back, fanning her flushed face with her hand.

“… I was just kidding. Please, just forget about it, okay?”

As if forgetting was an option. Still, Jeong-hyeon saw no reason to prolong the moment and risk making things awkward. He decided to let it slide and refocus on their mission.

“So, we just keep going this way?”

“Huh? Oh, yes. Follow this path, and we’ll reach the central area.”

“Got it. Let’s move.”

With Shin Si-ah still visibly flustered, Jeong-hyeon took the lead, steering their journey toward the heart of the demon city.

***

Duke Reltra stared at the report in his hand, releasing a long, heavy sigh. Chaos was spreading across the demon realm, sparked by two other dukes who dared to claim the Demon King’s throne for themselves.

‘What am I supposed to do with this mess?’

His frustration deepened as he considered his options. Ideally, he wanted to suppress both contenders and maintain the status quo, but this was far from feasible.

One of the contenders, Duke Betica, commanded the strongest military force in the realm. The other, Duke Pamur, had risen to power centuries ago through sheer personal strength. United, the two were an unstoppable force, leaving Duke Reltra, often regarded as the least formidable of the three, with no chance of challenging them alone.

‘If those two start fighting over the throne, our dream of conquering the human realm will shatter.’

The Demon King’s death, not at the hands of a hero but by someone else entirely, had only added fuel to the fire. Questions now loomed over the legitimacy of the Demon King’s role, once an unshakable truth of their existence.

‘And that’s why those two fools think they can defy tradition and seize power.’

His fingers tapped the desk rhythmically as he contemplated the reports. Despite the current unprecedented success of the Demon King’s forces in the human realm, internal disputes threatened to undermine everything.

‘Why must these problems arise now, of all times?’

Closing his eyes, Duke Reltra tried to gather his thoughts.

‘I’ll need to make a choice sooner or later.’

He weighed two paths. One was to side with one of the contenders, helping them ascend to the throne and preserving as much of their forces as possible. The other was to let them tear each other apart while focusing his resources solely on the human realm.

‘Neither option leads anywhere but ruin.’

Knowing both choices were flawed, he could only let out another sigh.

‘If only the Demon King could return…’

Yet even the return of the Demon King might not solve anything. With the unrest already brewing, their reappearance could spark even greater conflict unless they wielded power strong enough to silence all dissent.

The thought alone made Duke Reltra scoff. He reached for his cup, filled with venom-laced liquor, and drank deeply, letting his sighs fade into the emptiness of his chamber.

***

A massive cylindrical hole extended deep into the ground, its bottom obscured by shadows. The sheer scale of the pit was breathtaking, with thousands upon thousands of structures clinging to its walls like desperate vines. Jeong-hyeon couldn’t help but mutter in awe.

“Wow… this is insane.”

The sight was overwhelming enough to be called a city in its own right. As he stared, Shin Si-ah grabbed his wrist and pulled gently.

“Careful,” she warned. “They say if you get lost here, you’ll never find your way out. The paths are notoriously complicated.”

“Yeah, it sure looks like it.”

“So, while we’re descending, I’ll hold onto you. Just follow my lead, okay?”

Her face was flushed red to the tips of her ears, but despite her obvious embarrassment, Shin Si-ah acted as though nothing was amiss, maintaining an air of professionalism. Jeong-hyeon, however, smirked inwardly at her flustered demeanor.

‘Demon Duke, huh? Since they worship strength, maybe the quickest way to gain respect is to beat them senseless.’

As Shin Si-ah led the way, Jeong-hyeon pondered the best way to deal with the duke—how to make them yield and follow his lead.

***

After a lengthy descent, they finally reached a layer cloaked in toxic mists so dense it was difficult to see even a few steps ahead. The oppressive atmosphere made it clear they were nearing their destination.

“We’re almost there,” Shin Si-ah said, her voice cutting through the murk.

Jeong-hyeon nodded and kept walking, his eyes scanning their surroundings.

‘The center of a demon city, huh? The view is… grotesque.’

Bones of unknown origin littered the ground, forming uneven piles that crunched underfoot. Rusted iron stakes held decaying, unrecognizable corpses aloft, their stench mingling with the fumes. At first glance, it looked like the aftermath of a brutal war.

‘But strangely enough, the designs surrounding all this are surprisingly ornate.’

The surrounding architecture had an almost sacred air, evoking the grandeur of ancient temples. Jeong-hyeon couldn’t help but laugh at the stark contrast.

Shin Si-ah broke his train of thought, gesturing to an ominous door at the end of the corridor.

“This is the entrance. Inside, you’ll find Duke Reltra.”

“Alright.”

Without hesitation, Jeong-hyeon strode toward the door. Shin Si-ah, alarmed, tried to hold him back.

“Wait! Don’t—!”

‘Not happening.’

Shrugging off her grip, Jeong-hyeon pushed the door open.

***

The moment the door creaked ajar, a surge of lethal poison erupted forth, accompanied by a barrage of weapons and spells aimed directly at him. Clearly, the door was meant to deter intruders not granted permission to enter.

Jeong-hyeon chuckled and released a wave of divine power, neutralizing the attacks in an instant.

BOOM!

The cacophony of collapsing traps reverberated through the space, the danger dissipating as quickly as it had appeared. Jeong-hyeon surveyed the aftermath and muttered to himself.

“Back in my day, I trained while enduring attacks ten times worse than this.”

‘Did they seriously think this would stop me? I’m way stronger now than I was back then.’

Shaking his head at the audacity, Jeong-hyeon drew his sword with a casual grace and smirked.

“Well, that was quite the flashy welcome. Guess I’d better return the favor, as any polite guest should. Shin Si-ah, where’s this Demon Duke?”

“Just straight ahead, but— Jeong-hyeon, please, calm down!”

“Why bother? Calmness is for the weak.”

Having long understood the futility of resistance in the face of overwhelming power, Jeong-hyeon turned his gaze to the approaching demons gathering in the shadows.

“Let me guess… I just have to avoid killing them, right?”

“Y-Yes, but we should really try to talk—”

“We are talking.” Jeong-hyeon grinned, stepping forward as his sword gleamed in the dim light. “This is physical dialogue.”

With a single swing of his sword, Jeong-hyeon struck down the charging demon, careful to avoid a fatal blow. His intent was clear—render them unconscious but alive.

‘As much as I’d love to kill them all… These guys might become allies down the road. No point in wasting useful tools.’

Grinning, Jeong-hyeon decided to stretch his skills, almost like a nostalgic training session. He pulled a glowing elixir from his spatial storage—something gifted by Hana—and downed it in one gulp. His booming shout echoed through the chamber.

“Come at me, you bastards!”

Shin Si-ah, frozen in shock behind him, could only stammer.

“W-Wait… you are a hero, right? You’re not just pretending to be one, are you?”

Jeong-hyeon ignored her and leaped into action, his laughter mingling with the clash of steel as he cut through wave after wave of demons.

***

The ground was slick with blue demon blood, leaving a macabre trail wherever Jeong-hyeon stepped. He wiped his blade clean and gestured toward the opulent door ahead.

“This the place?”

“Yes,” Shin Si-ah confirmed weakly, still trying to process the chaos she had just witnessed.

Jeong-hyeon brushed off the blood splatters on his clothes. He wasn’t about to walk into an important meeting looking like he’d just stepped off a battlefield. Satisfied with his makeshift cleanup, he pushed the grand door open to reveal the room’s occupant.

A woman with striking green hair sat confidently in a regal chair. Despite being a demon, her appearance was eerily human, which caught Jeong-hyeon off guard.

‘No eight legs? No snake limbs? Not even hair made of snakes? What’s the deal?’

Before he could dwell on it further, the woman fixed him with a steady gaze and spoke.

“So, what brings you here?”

Her calm tone, unshaken even after her subordinates had been so thoroughly defeated, made Jeong-hyeon chuckle.

‘I guess a ruler’s got to act the part, huh?’

He toyed with the idea of planting his sword in the floor and making a bold introduction, but before he could act, Shin Si-ah stepped forward. She pulled back her hood and spoke firmly.

“Reltra. It’s me.”

The woman’s eyes widened in shock.

“Demon King?”

Her disbelief quickly gave way to reverence. Reltra dropped to one knee, bowing deeply.

“It is an honor to stand before the great Demon King.”

Jeong-hyeon sighed in mild disappointment. He had hoped for a little more resistance—something to justify a fight. Instead, she submitted without hesitation, leaving him with nothing but anticlimactic acceptance.

“Well,” he said, crossing his arms. “I’d love to chat and catch up, but my companion here has an urgent matter. Let’s get straight to the point.”

“Of course,” Reltra replied, her tone unwavering. “Whatever you desire.”

Shin Si-ah gestured to the seat beside her.

“Jeong-hyeon, sit here.”

He nodded, taking his place. Shin Si-ah then motioned for Reltra to rise and sit as well.

“Thank you.”

Reltra’s politeness seemed almost excessive, and Jeong-hyeon propped his chin on his hand, watching her curiously. After a moment, Reltra turned to Shin Si-ah and spoke in a cautious tone.

“Forgive me, but… who is your companion?”

Jeong-hyeon grinned and answered before Shin Si-ah could.

“I’m the Hero.”