Episode 544: Return to the Demon Sect
The atmosphere in the room turned icy in an instant.
As Sabikang rose from his seat, Nazar furrowed his brow, focusing intently.
Churyang knew he couldn’t just stand by idly.
The only silver lining was that Nazar seemed to think this was a conspiracy against the throne.
At least the situation wasn’t so dire that it felt like the world was collapsing.
Given the circumstances, he had no choice but to play along.
Clang!
Churyang drew his sword and stepped forward.
“Watch your words. Isn’t it disrespectful to say the Duke is ‘rambling’?”
As the situation took an unexpected turn, Maesellan, disguised as Aranius, slowly stood up and spoke.
“I was merely speaking hypothetically.”
Nazar shouted in response.
“Do you think you can dismiss your words about the Emperor as mere ‘hypotheticals’? Explain yourself. What exactly are you plotting with Duke Schwitz?”
“Plotting? My lord is hearing about Duke Aranius for the first time today!”
Helmut interjected heatedly, prompting Nazar to shout again.
“Silence! I wasn’t asking you!”
“Calm down.”
“Do I look calm to you? What scheme did the Duke have in mind when he brought me here?”
Maesellan looked at Sabikang with a troubled expression.
Sabikang, still composed, simply watched Aranius and Nazar.
Finally, he spoke.
“I have no idea what you’re all doing. Let me warn you. If you don’t put away your swords immediately, I’ll consider you intruders wielding weapons in my chamber.”
Nazar glanced between Sabikang and Aranius, his brow furrowed.
It was a difficult situation for him to lower his sword.
If Aranius and Sabikang were indeed conspiring, he might be attacked the moment he let his guard down.
Meanwhile, Maesellan spoke in a calm voice.
“Put away your sword.”
Churyang nodded slightly and sheathed his weapon.
But Nazar remained unmoved.
With his sword drawn, Helmut also maintained a tense stance, pressuring him.
Sabikang addressed Aranius.
“Leave. There’s nothing more to discuss. I don’t know why you two came to see me, but if this is some kind of trap, it’s disappointing.”
Sabikang believed Aranius and Nazar were in cahoots.
Nazar growled softly.
“Who are you to talk? I can’t leave without knowing the full story.”
“So you came prepared.”
Sabikang’s expression hardened, colder than ever.
A subtle aura began to emanate from his entire body.
Maesellan grew anxious.
This was a situation from which they couldn’t simply retreat.
Ding! Ding…!
Once again, a thunderous bell rang out.
Maesellan decided it was time to make a decisive move.
“Isn’t it time to wake up? You don’t belong here. There’s still a chance to stop the demons. Remember all those who followed you! And the palace you built to defeat the demons! And me, who loved you…”
“You’re insane! Duke Aranius, I will judge you for treason on the spot!”
Whoosh!
Nazar’s sword flew through the air.
In that moment, Churyang instinctively stepped in and blocked it with his own sword.
Clang!
The clear sound of metal rang out.
“Commander!”
Churyang shouted urgently as Maesellan rushed toward Sabikang.
Sabikang frowned as he saw Aranius charging at him.
Just then, Helmut instinctively moved to protect Sabikang, swinging his sword.
In a split second,
“Wait…!”
But Helmut was a fraction too fast.
Thud!
“Commander!”
Churyang cried out in a voice that was almost a scream.
Helmut’s sword had pierced deeply into Aranius’s side.
At the same time, Aranius’s lips met Sabikang’s.
In that moment, everyone in the room held their breath, watching Aranius and Sabikang.
Nazar’s jaw dropped, and Helmut looked as if he’d stepped in something unpleasant.
An old Aranius kissing Sabikang!
Rumble… Boom!
The world shook violently.
The sense of unease had reached its peak.
Crack…!
Boom…!
The floor began to crack and split, while dust and debris rained down from the ceiling.
The collapse of the conscious world.
Churyang shouted desperately.
“Master! Please wake up!”
At that moment,
A small creature leapt from Churyang’s arms,
Letting out a powerful cry.
Time came to a complete standstill.
The cracking floor and falling debris froze in mid-air.
Nazar remained frozen in shock.
Only Sabikang, Maesellan, Churyang, and Helmut could move.
Maesellan, having finished the kiss, looked up at Sabikang and pleaded.
“Please… remember. I need you.”
Did his sincerity reach him?
Sabikang’s cold expression seemed to slowly melt.
Finally, Sabikang smiled gently and said,
“Even like this, you’re still charming.”
With that, Maesellan faintly smiled and lost consciousness.
A brilliant golden light burst from the cracked floor, engulfing everyone.
**
“Doesn’t something feel off?”
Captain Gormos approached Strategist Zeke, speaking quietly.
The compulsion spell that had been on them was lifted due to the passage of time.
This sudden retreat order and the lack of further instructions were starting to raise suspicions.
“Hmm.”
Zeke squinted, looking at the distant Ilseong Sword Gate.
Something was definitely happening inside.
‘What’s going on, Commander?’
After a long pause, Zeke finally turned to Gormos and gave an order.
“Advance slowly.”
“Understood.”
The Helmut Knights began to move cautiously.
They were prepared to storm the Ilseong Sword Gate and wipe out any remaining humans if necessary.
However, they were proceeding with caution, unsure of what had happened to Commander Helmut.
The distance to the Ilseong Sword Gate was now less than two miles.
At a command, they could charge in and unleash a bloodbath.
Time passed.
“We can’t wait any longer.”
At Gormos’s words, Zeke nodded.
By now, something must have happened to Helmut.
It was strange that he hadn’t shown himself since the compulsion spell was lifted.
‘There’s no way the Commander could have been defeated by mere humans…’
Still, something was definitely amiss.
Delaying wouldn’t solve anything.
Finally, he gave the order.
“Attack all at once. Wipe out the humans in one swift strike!”
“Yes, sir!”
The captains turned and shouted.
“From now on, leave no human alive…!”
The captains flinched and turned around.
A chilling sensation seemed to pierce their backs.
“Who is that…?”
Zeke frowned, looking at the figure hovering in the air.
It was Sabikang.
“I thought I told you to stay put. Why are you sneaking up like a thief?”
Though he didn’t shout, Sabikang’s voice rang clearly in the ears of the demon knights.
Zeke’s expression hardened as he spoke.
“Where is Commander Helmut?”
But Sabikang’s response was unexpected.
“I won’t say much. Kneel. Swear your loyalty to me.”
Zeke thought he must have misheard.
His next thought was, ‘Is this man insane?’
But he quickly shook his head.
A madman wouldn’t be floating in the air, exuding such powerful martial prowess.
Unable to hold back, Gormos stepped forward and shouted.
“Hey, you crazy human! Commander Helmut…!”
“He swore loyalty to me. So you should kneel before me as well.”
“What… what?”
Zeke and Gormos exchanged incredulous looks.
The other knights murmured in confusion.
Then,
Flash!
Helmut appeared beside Sabikang.
“Commander!”
The knights, including Zeke, shouted in relief.
But the words that came from Helmut’s mouth were nothing short of shocking.
“Listen well. I have decided to follow this man. If you wish to join me, kneel before him.”
It was a statement with no preamble or explanation.
What on earth had happened in that short time?
Of course, there were tales of strange sorcery in the martial world.
But could it be as powerful as the sorcery of the demon realm?
Could mere human sorcery affect demons?
Moreover, Helmut was someone Zeke deeply respected.
Zeke asked in a bewildered tone.
“Commander…? What are you saying…?”
“I’m not forcing you. I just felt it necessary to inform you of my decision.”
Unable to contain himself any longer, Gormos shouted angrily.
“Damn it! What’s going on here? Commander! What are you saying? And you!”
Gormos raised a sharp axe, pointing it at Sabikang.
Sabigang stared intently, prompting Gormos to continue with a growl.
“I don’t know what you’ve done to the captain, but if you think you can control us with some vile sorcery, think again! A mere human daring to command demons? Stop spouting nonsense and taste my axe!”
In an instant,
Whoosh!
Gormos hurled his axe at Sabigang with terrifying speed.
But then…
Thud!
Gormos’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“With bare hands…?”
Gormos prided himself on his immense strength. Yet Sabigang had caught the flying axe with his bare hands.
Sabigang chuckled, tossing the axe up and catching it again as he spoke.
“Ah, I expected this. You lot never listen to reason. Only brute strength and fear can make you obey.”
“You arrogant…! So you think you can subdue us with force?”
“That’s exactly what I intend. What do you say? If I overpower you, will you pledge your loyalty to me?”
Zeke and Gormos exchanged incredulous glances.
Zeke pointed at Sabigang, seeking confirmation. “So… you’re saying you’ll take us all on by yourself?”
“Yes.”
“Alone?”
“That’s right.”
This time, Gormos shouted in disbelief.
“You’re going to face a thousand demons alone?”
“Yes.”
Once more, Zeke and Gormos looked at each other.
‘Is this guy completely insane?’