Episode 580: Return to the Demon Realm
Sweat poured down Jacok’s face like rain.
“I have to get out of here, no matter what! If I don’t… His Majesty will kill me!”
Why?
He didn’t know.
It was a prophecy.
A vision in a dream.
A foretelling that he would lose his life to Demon King Tarant today!
This was the root of his recent anxiety.
Jacok, restless, asked nervously, “Y-Your Majesty, what brings you here at this hour?”
“Well… I was just drawn here.”
Jacok slowly backed away.
The Demon King’s presence in his room was purely instinctual.
The dark god of instincts guided him.
And that dark god…
“Is telling me I must kill you.”
“Gah.”
Jacok’s face turned ghostly pale.
It was over.
If the Demon King had decided so, there was nothing he could do.
He cursed the dark god for not giving him the prophecy sooner.
Tarant approached Jacok slowly.
Jacok felt as if he were bound by invisible chains, unable to move.
Finally, Tarant tapped Jacok’s forehead with a finger.
“Sorry. My instincts say I need to kill you to understand everything.”
“Y-Your Majesty…”
Crack… Crack…!
Jacok’s body suddenly felt like it was on fire, splitting and burning like molten lava.
The flames consumed him from within, leaving him unable to even scream.
And then.
Sssss…!
His body turned to ash, which was absorbed into Tarant’s nostrils.
Tarant’s eyes briefly glowed yellow before returning to normal.
He smiled faintly.
“So that’s how it is.”
**
The atmosphere in the grand hall was tense.
The demons gathered there were restless.
The room felt dark and empty.
The absence of Aranius, who was usually so talkative, was especially noticeable today.
But he would never be there again.
Even though all the high-ranking officials were present, the atmosphere was so grave that you could hear a pin drop.
Duke Lucidal was dead.
No one had expected such a situation to unfold.
The official report stated that Savikang led the Demon Slayer Sect in a surprise attack on Duke Lucidal’s summoning site.
Marquis Baritan and the Neungun faction rushed to aid Lucidal, but he was already dead by the time they arrived.
To minimize losses, the Neungun faction and Baritan retreated and returned to the summoning site.
However, few demons believed the official report.
Who was Baritan, after all?
Wasn’t he the traitor who once plotted rebellion against the Demon King?
Most of the high-ranking officials first suspected Baritan.
Some also suspected the Neungun faction, but the prevailing thought was that a newly turned half-demon wouldn’t dare such a reckless act.
Only Count Adler harbored cautious suspicions.
But even if he had doubts, he didn’t voice them directly.
After all, he was the one who had turned the Neungun faction into demons.
If they had betrayed, the blame could easily fall on him.
Moreover…
“Count Jacok is nowhere to be seen.”
Count Jacok had seemed unusually anxious lately.
Yet today, he was absent.
The Demon King hadn’t mentioned it at all.
Which meant he knew the reason.
Perhaps the Demon King had killed Count Jacok himself.
Tarant was that kind of person.
Unpredictable in his actions.
Guided by the dark god of instincts, making him even harder to foresee.
Perhaps he had eliminated Jacok for failing to foresee the future accurately.
Adler had informed the Demon King directly that Savikang was a regressor.
The Demon King’s reaction was unexpected.
“I know.”
That curt response.
To be so calm despite knowing.
When the Demon King acted like this, it meant only one thing.
“Everything is still under his control! Even Duke Lucidal’s death!”
Otherwise, the Demon King would have acted differently by now.
Then, one of the high-ranking officials cautiously spoke up.
“It’s hard to believe Duke Lucidal was killed solely by the Demon Slayer Sect’s attack. There must be another reason.”
“Indeed. We must remain calm and uncover the cause.”
“What’s there to uncover? We all have our suspicions, don’t we?”
Someone blurted out.
The room fell silent again, everyone watching the Demon King’s reaction.
Finally, Tarant opened his eyes, which had been closed.
He scanned the room and asked, “What do you think?”
A question without context.
But the nobles didn’t hesitate.
“Your Majesty, rumors are spreading among humans. They say Marquis Baritan betrayed you and allied with Savikang. We can’t just ignore this.”
“Indeed, Your Majesty. It’s as if Marquis Baritan himself killed Duke Lucidal. We can’t just stand by.”
“There’s even talk that Count Hount conspired with Marquis Baritan!”
At least having someone to blame and punish could change the atmosphere.
So all the demons unleashed near-curses toward Baritan.
Once the commotion settled,
“What do you think?”
Tarant’s gaze turned to Adler.
Adler quickly bowed his head and replied, “I agree. Marquis Baritan is highly suspicious. After a thorough investigation, if he truly betrayed us, it would be wise to eliminate him early…”
“No investigation is needed.”
“Pardon…?”
“I’ll send the Beheaders.”
The room buzzed with murmurs.
The Beheaders were the Demon King’s elite assassination squad, composed of four demons.
Their reputation was such that they were said to find and destroy even the souls of the dead.
Their involvement signified the Demon King’s grave assessment of the situation.
The demons unanimously agreed.
“A wise decision!”
Tarant looked back at Adler.
“Order the Neungun faction to join the Beheaders in eliminating Baritan.”
“Understood.”
Count Adler replied respectfully, bowing deeply.
**
“The orders have come.”
Neungunpa’s words made Guyun look up.
“What are they?”
“They want me to eliminate Baritan.”
“So the Demon King has decided to sever ties first.”
“Wasn’t that what we expected?”
“True.”
Guyun gave a wry smile.
Neungunpa clasped his hands behind his back, lost in thought.
“What do you think I should do?”
“Did they ask you to eliminate Baritan alone?”
“If that were the case, I wouldn’t be pondering like this.”
“Then…?”
“They’re sending the Beheaders.”
“The Beheaders…?”
“The Demon King’s elite assassination squad. Four demons with considerable combat prowess. They’ve asked me to join them, meaning they intend to ensure Baritan’s elimination.”
“Then, can they be considered the Demon King’s right hand?”
“In a way.”
“What do you intend to do?”
“Shouldn’t we eliminate both Baritan and the Beheaders?”
“Hmm.”
Guyun narrowed his eyes, deep in thought, prompting Neungunpa to glance at him curiously.
“You seem to have a different idea.”
“Let’s change the plan.”
“Change the plan?”
“Allowing Marquis Baritan to grow too powerful isn’t ideal. After we eliminate the Demon King, we might face a tough battle against Baritan.”
“So…?”
“For now, it would be wise to ally with the Beheaders to eliminate Baritan. Then, you can absorb Baritan’s dark god.”
Neungunpa’s eyes gleamed with interest.
Guyun continued, “The best outcome would be…”
“A double knockout?”
“Exactly. It’s an opportunity to eliminate Baritan and cripple the Demon King’s right hand.”
Neungunpa smiled slyly.
“You’ve become quite cunning.”
“When everyone else is shouting about righteousness, a strategist must keep a distance from such emotions.”
Neungunpa looked at his hands with a cold smile.
“Indeed. It’s not a bad plan. I’ve wanted to deal with Baritan personally anyway.”
**
In the most luxurious room of the Demon Slayer Inn.
Savikang, Churyang, Baritan, and Hount sat facing each other.
Hount, with a perpetually disgruntled expression, spoke curtly.
“What do you plan to do about the rumors spreading in the martial world?”
Churyang quickly interjected.
“Show respect to the Demon Slayer Lord!”
“This insolent…!”
Hount was beyond exasperated.
Why were all the humans associated with the Demon Slayer Sect like this?
Savikang chuckled and asked, “Rumors?”
“Are you asking because you don’t know? There’s talk among humans that Marquis Baritan has betrayed us. If this reaches the ears of the Black Star…”
“The Demon King likely already knows about the betrayal.”
“Even so, if it becomes public knowledge…”
“Well, enough of the pointless lamenting.”
“What? Lamenting?”
“We’ve done our best to keep things quiet, but it’s inevitable, isn’t it? People have eyes, ears, and mouths. What can we do about what they see, hear, and say?”
“Is that supposed to be an explanation…?”
The hound growled, but Baritan raised a hand to stop it and turned his gaze to Sabigang.
“So, what’s the next plan?”
“Hmm. How about we change the direction of the blade?”
“What do you mean?”
Baritan looked at him with a curious expression, and Sabigang met his gaze steadily.
“Isn’t there someone on your side who’s becoming a bit of a nuisance if this drags on too long?”
“Are you talking about Neungunpa?”
Instead of answering, Sabigang simply smiled.
It was a silent affirmation.
Baritan chuckled dryly.
“Truly, the cunning of humans could make even demons weep.”
“If you don’t like it, just let it go in one ear and out the other.”
“No, I quite like it. But may I ask why?”
“Neungunpa crossed a line that should never have been crossed.”
“A line that shouldn’t be crossed?”
“He kidnapped someone who should be here with me right now. A hostage.”
“You mean that young soldier.”
“Yes. And after we eliminate Neungunpa, how about we report that he was the one who killed Duke Lucidal?”
A sly grin spread across Baritan’s face.
“Sometimes humans resemble demons so much it’s startling. Just like now.”
This, too, was an affirmation.
Sabigang nodded and said, “Then I’ll take that as a yes. I’ll inform you later when we plan to eliminate Neungunpa. Oh, and just in case, I’ve prepared a safe house.”
“A safe house?”
“Do you remember that pavilion where we met before?”
“Wasn’t it more of a rundown gazebo than a pavilion?”
Sabigang nodded.
“Yes, that place. With Murang’s magic cast over it, it won’t be discovered by enemies. If anything happens, take refuge there.”
Baritan replied with a sneer, “Worrying over nothing. Do you think I’d rely on mere humans if I had nowhere else to go?”
“Still, you never know what the future holds.”
Sabigang smiled gently.