Chapter 848
Episode 211: Orgal’s Negotiation (Part 2)
Zephyrin didn’t outright deny the statement.
“One of the heads, huh… Well, it depends on whose perspective you take regarding the body of that great serpent. After all, it originally had nine heads.”
“Hey, demon dragon. It’s simple in this case. The head that currently owns the body is the master. You just weren’t strong enough compared to Ameris, so you fell off like grapes from a bunch.”
“Well, it might look that way for now. Anyway, you’ve come again without any manners. Didn’t your master warn your lord Jin enough last time?”
“It’s been quite a while since I made a deal with Vishkel. If you’re late on payment, don’t come whining about settling scores with me again.”
“Every time I meet him, Jin Lord is such a pain. He’s already squeezed out plenty of compensation just for holding off a couple of those Red-Eyed tribe scraps.”
“A promise is a promise.”
“So, you want me to tell you how we bring demons into the human world? By bypassing the Barrier of Sealed Demons guarded by the great serpent?”
Surprisingly, Zephyrin got straight to the point. While unconscious due to Ameris, she had regained some ancient memories.
“Oh, that’s refreshing. I didn’t expect you to bring up the Barrier of Sealed Demons so quickly.”
“It’s no longer such a big secret. Information about the Underworld has already been made public to the general populace. It’s only a matter of time before the truth about the Barrier and those living beneath it comes out.”
Usually, when the other side freely spills information, it means they want something. Though this was a trade, Zephyrin could have easily taken a more passive stance if she wished.
“The Barrier is already partially destroyed, Lord Jin. Ameris probably doesn’t remember this. That’s why he sent you to find out how we actually control the demons.”
“Partially destroyed?”
“The ancient Mingwang tribe, the Cheongmyeong tribe, and the Red-Eyed tribe destroyed parts of it. Ameris hurried to repair the Barrier back then, but some demons living underground had already slipped into the Middle World — the space between the surface and the Underworld.”
“So the demons Kinzelro commands now aren’t purely from underground, but from those living in the Middle World?”
“Yes. That’s why Ameris couldn’t have known. They never brought up those beneath the Barrier. The Red-Eyed tribe is the same — they don’t live under the Barrier, so they could come out.”
The Middle World.
Zephyrin used that term to describe the space between the surface and the Underworld.
“What about during the Holy Kingdom’s defense?”
“At that time, demons from both the Middle World and beneath the Barrier were mixed. Unlike our master, the witch Helluram can directly summon demons from beneath the Barrier…”
The more she spoke, the more questions about the Underworld and the demons arose.
Above all, the biggest mystery was why Zephyrin was so cooperative in sharing information. It wasn’t like she wanted to brag about regaining her memories.
The way to figure out her true intentions was simple.
“I see. Alright, we’ll be on our way then.”
As Jin abruptly stood as if to leave, Zephyrin blinked.
“Isn’t there more you need to tell me?”
“Oh, there is? You were dragging things out so I thought it was over. You’ve explained well enough how Kinzelro brings demons. Anyway, it seems you don’t have much contact with the demons beneath the Barrier either. Looks like Orgal isn’t here now.”
Suppressing her irritation, Zephyrin glared at Jin and Murakan for a moment.
“What are you staring at? Want to fight?”
Murakan frowned, and Zephyrin sighed.
“…Ugh, this is so tiresome. Since when did things get like this? When did Kinzelro start getting pushed around by you guys? Why does it always have to be like this?”
“What’s with the sudden rant? You feeling alright?”
“Enough. Sit back down. We’ll share most of what we know about the Underworld.”
Jin smiled slyly.
“You should’ve said that from the start, Zephyrin. Judging by your attitude, it seems you’re the one who’s in a tight spot here.”
“That’s about right. But it’s not just us who are in trouble, Lord Jin. Recently, the Barrier has been collapsing.”
“The Barrier? Ameris never mentioned that.”
“The great serpent originally had nine heads. But now, only Ameris owns the body. There’s a huge difference between Ameris before he fell asleep and now.”
The Barrier separates the surface world from the entire Underworld. Zephyrin added that the current Ameris couldn’t fully sense the entire area.
“What’s the proof that the Barrier is collapsing?”
“Demon King Zito. He’s regaining his power.”
“Zito?”
Zephyrin gave a signal, and Bianca brought over a metal box. Inside was a massive ring.
“What’s this?”
“A ring — the seal of Demon King Zito.”
“Looks pretty big. A human could use it as a belt.”
“Look here, at the engraved seal. See the faint purple glow?”
Indeed, the intricate seal shimmered with a violet light.
“This glow appears when Zito issues commands across the demon realm. And this is the first time we’ve seen the seal glow while in our possession.”
“So Zito is currently issuing orders to the demons underground? That means he’s already awake.”
“The Holy Kingdom is still keeping his main body. So even if he’s awake, he hasn’t fully regained his strength. That’s why the glow is so faint. We think he’s just barely regained consciousness.”
— “One thing I can say for sure is that I can’t control what’s happening to Zito’s body.”
— “Even if you could, I doubt you’d want to.”
— “You might not believe me, but his awakening is a huge burden for me as well.”
Orgal’s conversation with him during their temporary alliance with Kinzelro came to mind. Orgal had said Zito was “a disgrace to the demons, but also a mentor to me.”
“So that’s why Orgal isn’t here, and you came instead?”
“Yes. As soon as my master regained consciousness, he went to negotiate with the demons beneath the Barrier.”
“That sounds like the demons beneath the Barrier are now able to come out.”
“For now, only special demons can briefly stay in the Middle World. But soon, they’ll be able to cross into the surface. Maybe all demons…”
A shadow crossed Zephyrin’s face.
She didn’t seem to be putting on an act. If Kinzelro had been on friendly terms with Zito, they would have kept an eye on his eye in the Holy Kingdom. Orgal knew that Zito’s eye was kept there.
— “Zito was an immortal who wanted to become the new order. He ruled through pain… A madman you’d best avoid. Even when he had nine heads, that body was a monster no one could guarantee victory against. I don’t remember how he died.”
According to Ameris, Zito was far from the “resurrection of the sun god.” He was the polar opposite of Orgal, who desired that resurrection.
“What kind of negotiation is Orgal trying to make with the demons underground?”
Near the collapsed Barrier of Sealed Demons, Middle World.
Orgal suppressed his unease and walked toward the cracks in the Barrier. The future of Kinzelro depended on who among the demon kings underground emerged into the Middle World first.
The one who opposed Zito had to appear first. If Zito had just awakened but his followers were already stronger, Kinzelro’s grand plan would be in jeopardy again.
[Orgal… is that you?]
[Faelito, it’s been a while.]
Faelito was the demon who had fiercely opposed Zito in Orgal’s memories. Orgal breathed a sigh of relief and approached, extending his hand.
[It’s been a long time since I’ve been outside the demon realm. I’m glad I met you right after coming out.]
Faelito clasped Orgal’s hand.
[You’ve ruled the demons who slipped into the Middle World for a long time, haven’t you?]
[That’s right. But who told you that?]
[Your lover, the witch Helluram. Since the great serpent fell asleep, who else could have sent news to the demon realm?]
[True, that’s embarrassing. How are things beneath the Barrier?]
[Same as always. After all these years, they still dream of the surface. Now that the Barrier is starting to crumble, maybe that long-held dream is about to come true…]
Faelito took a deep breath. Though the Middle World was no different from the Underworld, the air was closer to the surface, and that gave him satisfaction.
[But I guess that’s not the answer you want, Orgal. You want to know who currently rules the demon realm.]
[I thought it would be you. You were the first to break through the Barrier’s cracks, so you must be the strongest in the demon realm now.]
[Call it the demon realm if you want, but the Middle World you call the demon realm is just where the outcast demons like you live.]
Orgal said nothing, instead studying Faelito carefully once more.
A soft violet glow shimmered from the ring on his finger, perfectly matching the light emanating from Jito’s seal.
That meant one thing: Paelito was following Jito’s orders.
“In the past, and even now, the only true king ruling the Demon Realm is none other than Lord Jito himself, Orgal. I had thought you, too, were summoned by Lord Jito to seek out the rift… but was I mistaken?”