Chapter 151
“Hero, will you be alright?”
“About what?”
Rachel asked with a worried expression.
“Didn’t you tell them too honestly? After all, the bull-head is still part of the Demon King’s Army.”
Choi Hyun-seok had conveyed the facts exactly as they were to Reidrun.
About the tragic incident that occurred in the remote village due to necromancy.
Similar incidents might happen across the entire continent soon.
And even Park Hyun-a might be in danger.
Rachel questioned whether it was necessary to give such information to Reidrun.
“Don’t worry. I didn’t just blurt it out without thinking. Remember when they said most demons hate necromancy?”
“Hmm, was it Jalmus? I think a demon by that name said that.”
“Right. And notice how this necromancy situation is being kept secret? Why do you think that is?”
Demon King Tegrad, 4th Corps Deputy Commander Onyx, and the former 2nd Corps Commander, that rat Rotark.
Why would just these three carry out the project in secret?
I thought about it a little, and the answer became clear.
It’s because of opposition from other demons.
Even in an organization with a strict chain of command, forcing through something without consent would inevitably lead to low morale and resistance.
The Demon King must know this well, which is why they’re preparing carefully and secretly like this.
“Besides, Hemis especially hates necromancy among the demons.”
“Ah! That’s right!”
“So I figured Reidrun, being close to Hemis, would probably hate necromancy too. You know what Reidrun’s personality is like, right?”
“Indeed, that stubborn bull-head would definitely be strongly against something like necromancy.”
Rachel thought Reidrun wouldn’t welcome power like necromancy.
“And I had no choice but to talk about Corps Commander Park Hyun-a.”
The main purpose of the communication was to warn Park Hyun-a about the danger in the first place.
To explain what kind of danger was approaching, the details about necromancy couldn’t be left out.
“Aha! I understand! So you had this in mind, hero!?”
“Of course. But why does that sound strange?”
“What do you mean? I was giving you high praise! People shouldn’t be so twisted.”
Choi Hyun-seok clicked his tongue and turned away while staring at Rachel.
“Anyway, now that we’ve finished our pending homework, shall we get going?”
“Yes!”
Choi Hyun-seok decided not to think about this matter anymore.
Even if he wanted to do more here, there was nothing he could do.
He had fulfilled his minimum obligation.
‘Now I’ll leave it to heaven.’
All that remained was to pray for the situation to improve even a little.
***
“What do you think?”
Reidrun asked.
Motem remained silent without answering.
He understood the intention behind Reidrun’s question.
After all, he had sat beside him and listened to the conversation too.
The reason he wasn’t answering was simply to organize his thoughts.
“As you might have noticed, I too am a being created by necromancy.”
Motem said.
Reidrun showed no particular reaction.
As Motem said, he had already somewhat figured it out.
Motem continued speaking calmly.
“How much do you know about necromancy?”
“Not in detail. Only that it’s not right and it’s a cowardly power…”
Reidrun expressed his honest thoughts about necromancy.
Even with Motem, who was created by necromancy, right in front of him, given his personality, he would want to speak honestly.
“So that’s how it’s known these days…”
Motem nodded and continued.
“Necromancy is terribly dangerous. Before demons came to this land, that is, in the world where we originally existed, all forces that used necromancy were destroyed. Do you know why?”
“Because they became public enemies?”
“That’s not wrong, but there’s a different fundamental cause.”
The reason why forces using necromancy were destroyed in the land where demons originally lived.
Motem’s answer was completely unexpected.
“They self-destructed.”
“Self-destructed…?”
“Yes. The demonic energy that powers necromancy drives its users mad. They became obsessed with turning everything into undead, wanting to leave only death in the world.”
“…”
“Of course, I’m different. Though I was reborn through necromancy, my demonic energy is pure. This is more thanks to Lady Hemis than my own power.”
Motem was indeed an undead created by necromancy, but he was different from typical ones.
He was closer to a miracle created by the combination of Hemis’s special power, Motem’s originally pure demonic energy, and his outstanding mental strength.
“Anyway, this isn’t right. Not content with fleeing to this land, now they’re dabbling in necromancy. Tegrad. Just how far does he intend to go…”
Long ago, before becoming undead.
Motem had quite a friendly relationship with Demon King Tegrad.
The Demon King that Motem remembered was a clever and ambitious demon.
But now, after hundreds of years.
All that remained in the Demon King’s castle were old and hideous demons.
“By the way, how do you plan to relay the message to Corps Commander Park Hyun-a?”
Motem changed the subject to lighten the mood.
He was referring to what Choi Hyun-seok had said about Park Hyun-a.
âPlease relay it to Corps Commander Park Hyun-a.â
âWhat should I say?â
âTell her to be careful of what’s above her head and beneath her feet. Just relay that.â
Though indirect, the meaning was clear.
“I suppose he was talking about the Demon King and Deputy Commander Onyx.”
“That’s right. And you intend to relay this information?”
“Yes.”
Reidrun answered without a moment’s hesitation.
Motem found this response surprising.
There was nothing to gain by sharing this information.
“Why?”
“Honestly, I know there’s no need for this. Corps Commander Park Hyun-a is ultimately human. Leaving things as they are might be more beneficial for the Demon King’s Army. If she becomes undead, she’ll remain in the Demon King’s Army forever.â
“You understand well. Yet why are you telling me this?”
“Because I made a promise with Choi Hyun-seok.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes. There’s no other reason.”
Motem laughed softly.
He thought it was a foolish yet quintessentially rasor-like answer.
He nodded and stood up from his seat.
“I see. I’ll be going for training now.”
“You’re not going to stop me?”
“I’m just an outsider, not part of the Demon King’s Army. I don’t think it’s my place to comment.”
“I understand.”
As Motem was leaving the Division Commander’s office, he suddenly turned back.
“What about training?”
“I’ll contact Corps Commander Park Hyun-a and return right away.”
“Excellent.”
Satisfied with the answer, Motem smiled inside his helmet.
***
4th Corps Commander Park Hyun-a.
Her daily routine was very simple.
Training – Meals – Rest
That was all.
She had almost no duties as Corps Commander.
The former 4th Corps Commander, now Vice Corps Commander Onyx.
He handled most of the work.
Park Hyun-a only received reports occasionally when there were important matters.
She was essentially Corps Commander in name only, practically an outsider.
“Hey, what are you staring at?”
“S-sorry!”
Nevertheless, it was clear that she was the strongest in the 4th Corps, so no one dared to upset her.
“Tch! I’ve been feeling uneasy lately.”
Park Hyun-a spat and muttered.
Recently, she’d been having a strange feeling.
It was hard to explain, but there was a recurring uncomfortable uneasiness.
It felt like someone was watching her, and sometimes, like insects were crawling on her body.
‘Maybe I’ve become too sensitive since that big mouth died…’
Hemis’s death was also a big shock to Park Hyun-a.
The core of the Demon King’s Army’s fighting force.
Hemis, who was considered a potential rival with the Demon King Tegrad.
Though her unpredictable personality made others uneasy, she was the most reliable ally on the battlefield.
The Demon King had cast out such a Hemis.
Though they said she died in battle, Park Hyun-a didn’t believe it.
‘How could that cunning big-mouth suddenly die on the battlefield? It doesn’t make sense.’
Park Hyun-a thought she must have fallen into a trap.
Not just a trap set by humans, but a carefully planned trap involving even the Demon King.
‘The Demon King is no longer sane. I could be killed too if I’m not careful.’
If her thoughts about Hemis were correct, even Park Hyun-a’s own safety isn’t guaranteed.
The Demon King would no longer tolerate any existence that bothered him.
Having already cast out Hemis, what would stop him?
Park Hyun-a smiled bitterly.
‘Perhaps it’s time to leave this place too…’
People thought Park Hyun-a joined the Demon King’s Army because she was being pursued by the Holy Empire.
That wasn’t entirely wrong.
In exchange for shelter, Park Hyun-a had handed over confidential information about the Holy Empire and various human intelligence, and sworn allegiance to the Demon King’s commands.
However, her real purpose for joining the Demon King’s Army was different.
It was to end the war.
‘If humans couldn’t do it, I tried to create change from within the Demon King’s Army, but this place is just as hopeless.’
Park Hyun-a had long been trying to end the war.
After endless digging, she discovered that this war was being intentionally prolonged.
Afterward, she tried to eliminate the human power brokers, but it was impossible.
The human power built over a long time was too strong.
Especially the two empires, ‘Gatren’ and ‘Drason’, possessed unimaginably powerful forces.
Eventually, she switched to the Demon King’s Army to attempt change, but.
This place wasn’t much different.
In some ways, these beings were worse than humans.
‘At least the Pope has ambitions to conquer the continent. The Demon King only thinks about preserving his position.’
Demon King Tegrad was very different from Park Hyun-a’s expectations.
Making the title of Demon King seem ridiculous, he was a pacifist.
They are merely intoxicated with a peace built upon false wars while holed up in the Demon King’s castle.
The other Corps Commanders aren’t much different either.
After spending several years there, Park Hyun-a came to a conclusion.
It’s impossible to bring about change even within the Demon King’s Army.
‘At times like this, it’s regrettable. Though she was a crazy-mouthed woman, she was at least a progressive figure.’
Whether in the right or wrong direction, at least Hemis wasn’t stagnant.
Despite being the oldest demon, she was more demon-like than anyone else.
Perhaps because she was the oldest demon, she might have resembled the fundamental nature of demons.
‘Tch! Right. Let’s leave soon. There’s no reason to stay in the Demon King’s Army anymore.’
Just as Park Hyun-a had decided to leave the Demon King’s Army.
An adjutant approached.
He held out a communication crystal and said,
“Corps Commander.”
“What?”
“There’s a communication from the 8th Division.”
“8th Division?”
The 8th Division is under the 3rd Corps.
Originally, Hemis was the Corps Commander, but after her death, the position remains vacant.
She remembered hearing that they would select a new Corps Commander soon.
“Who from the 8th Division?”
“The 8th Division Commander.”
“For fuck’s sake, I’m asking who that is. Am I supposed to know who the 8th Division Commander is?”
“W-well…”
The adjutant’s clothes were damp with sweat.
Park Hyun-a’s magical power was more aggressive than ordinary demonic energy, so when she projected her energy like this, it felt as if one’s entire body was being cut by blades.
The adjutant struggled to speak.
“It’s Lord Reidrun…”
“That bull-head made it up to the Division Commander already?”
“Yes. It’s been just over two weeks since his appointment as Division Commander.”
“Fine. Anyway, give it here.”
“Here it is.”
Park Hyun-a received the communication crystal and infused it with magical power.
While all of the Demon King’s Army’s communication crystals operate on demonic energy, this one was specially made for Park Hyun-a.
“Yeah. It’s me.”
-Corps Commander. It’s been a while.
“Yeah. I heard you became a Division Commander. Didn’t know. Belated congratulations.”
-Thank you.
“So what’s up? You contacting me and all.”
-Is there anyone else around you?
Park Hyun-a looked around.
The only demon nearby was the adjutant.
“Just the adjutant.”
-Could you have the adjutant step away as well? This is something no one else should hear.
Park Hyun-a nodded at the adjutant.
The adjutant bowed his head and turned around.
The adjutant’s expression was twisted with hostility, but Park Hyun-a failed to notice this.
“Now there’s no one. So what’s the matter?”
-It’s a message from Choi Hyun-seok.
“Choi Hyun-seok? Right! I heard he ran away! I thought he died somewhere, but I guess he managed to survive.”
-Yes. I just confirmed he’s alive after receiving his contact.
“Anyway, why? What does he have to say to me?”
Choi Hyun-seok, the hero with the unique ability to handle demonic energy.
While they weren’t completely unconnected, they weren’t close enough to have personal conversations.
Park Hyun-a couldn’t imagine why he would contact her.
-Watch above your head and beneath your feet.
“Huh? That’s it?”
-Yes. That’s all Choi Hyun-seok said.
Park Hyun-a pondered those words again.
‘Above my head and beneath my feet… Could it be!?’
Just as she noticed something and her eyes widened.
Crash!
Suddenly the communication crystal shattered.
Simultaneously, demons appeared from somewhere and began surrounding her.
All of them were unfamiliar demons not belonging to the 4th Corps.
The demonic energy they emanated was not ordinary.
Park Hyun-a roughly ran her hand through her hair.
“That fucking bastard. If you’re going to tell me, you should have said it sooner…”
It seemed too late to be careful now.
