The blood fortress of Bloodgok.
In front of that fortress, demon warriors were gathered.
They could clearly see Lilith’s army approaching from afar.
In a bid to stop Lilith’s forces from breaching the fortress, all of Berzette’s warriors were swept away.
Leading the charge, Lilith burned Berzette’s troops to ashes. Aware of Duke Yuma striding up behind her, Lilith dispatched enemies with even more zeal.
As Duke Yuma progressed slowly, someone approached him.
Thud—
The demon that came forward kneeled abruptly.
Yuma regarded the demon with keen interest.
[Lv.89] Karah
Species: Demon
Level: Tier 3
Alignment: Neutral Good
Bloodline Ability: Ability Inscription
Note: Has suffered mental degradation due to prolonged external pressure.
Yuma noticed the “Bloodline Ability: Ability Inscription” part. This Karah was one of the awakened bloodline ability users from the Inscription family.
Now that he thought about it, her eyes were the same silvery color as Selene’s, and her hair was also platinum blonde.
Karah spoke.
“I’ve been informed by the Great Demon King Lilith. That you have slain the Great Demon King Berzette and rescued our Levine family.”
Yuma slowly nodded.
“I’ve heard that my sister… the head of the family has passed away.”
Karah, still kneeling, continued with her head bowed.
“My sister will not resent you. She will only be grateful for your mercy. This goes for me as well as our Inscription family. We remember mercy and grace.”
Yuma nodded slowly again and moved forward. Karah walked beside him.
Yuma organized his thoughts. What should he do?
‘There’s no need to do anything.’
He had gained everything he needed.
[Flash of Inscription] and [Blood of the Great Demon King]. Now all that was left was to return to the Intermediate World. Yet, he wanted to tie up loose ends.
Yuma looked at Karah, who was walking beside him. Beside Karah, Bell silently stood guard.
Yuma then gazed at Karah.
“Let your Levine family rule this land of Berzette.”
Karah’s eyes widened in surprise.
“What?!”
“Uh?”
Yuma briefly ignored Karah’s question and approached Lilith.
“How long would it take for Levine to rise to the former position of the Demon Lord family?”
Lilith tilted her head.
“Even including the non-blood awakening individuals, the current number of the engraved family isn’t that large… I can’t even make a guess. I don’t know about the Demon Lord family, but for this demonic realm’s family to reach a stable position, it would take at least a hundred years.”
Yuma walked alongside Lilith and continued speaking.
“A hundred years isn’t that long of a time for you guys, is it?”
Lilith slowly nodded.
“That’s true… it’s not really a long time…?”
Lilith felt a chill from Yuma’s words.
“I hope the engraved family Levine dominates this land.”
“Hm?”
“And I wish for you to form an alliance with the Levine family. For a hundred years.”
Lilith’s eyes widened.
“Alliance?”
“Yeah, it could also be considered a pact. I mean for you to protect the Levine family from being devoured by others for a hundred years.”
Lilith paused for a moment. Right next to her was the crazy guy who was asking the Great Demon King to dedicate a significant amount of time to other families.
“I know it’s an unreasonable request. But I hope you can do it.”
Lilith’s eyes widened even more. He claimed to know it was an unreasonable request but said it without a hint of hesitation.
Yuma continued walking alongside Lilith.
“If the engraved family could completely absorb everything in this Great Demon King’s land, the Blood Fortress, even with a small number of people, they wouldn’t easily fall apart.”
Yuma looked around as he spoke. Numerous monsters could be seen at the Berzette Demon King’s castle. Among them were the tier-one rank monsters, a key part of Berzette’s offensive forces.
There seemed to be hundreds of monsters trapped in the massive cages. Just properly attuning them to the engraved family could be enough to fend off most invasions from other Demon Lord families.
‘But it’s also true that a solid shield is needed.’
This was the demon realm.
It could be the last time he left this place, never to return. Yet, there was no way to bring the engraved family to the Intermediate World. Not that it was necessary. Originally, Selene, who was the head, was the only one who could engrave humans, and once a human was engraved, they might not be able to be re-engraved for several years, or so it was said.
Yuma knew that what he was doing was nothing but hypocrisy.
I knew that.
“What I’m saying is that I hope you and the Purgatory Family become the backers of the Insignia Family while they regain their original position.”
“…Is this an order or a request?”
Lilith maintained her walking speed and humorously inquired.
They weren’t looking at each other; both were walking straight ahead. Duke Yuma opened his mouth to reply.
“It’s a request. Why would I give an order? I won’t even be around in the demon realm much longer.”
Yuma glanced at Lilith. She wasn’t as bizarre in demeanor as she was in speech. Her inclination may be ‘neutral’, but it would be odd to maintain that alignment while reaching the status of the Great Demon King in this brutal land of the demon realm.
Lilith slowly opened her mouth.
“Is it a sense of obligation? Toward Selene?”
“Not at all. I had no reason to feel that way after I killed Berzette with my own hands.”
Is it a sense of obligation?
As Yuma pondered his own words, he reflected.
“I just don’t want to see the Insignia Family, whom I went through the trouble of saving, get easily overpowered by the strong again.”
Lilith responded to Yuma’s words.
“That’s true. If only these remain in the Bloodline Castle after the main heir departs, it won’t be long before others targeting this castle appear.”
Lilith seemed to contemplate for a moment, closing her mouth and continuing to walk.
“Well, fine. If we break the contract with the Berzette Family bound to the core of this Bloodline Castle and fully make it the Levain Family’s, the powerful magic of the Berzette Family existing in this castle will surely bless the Levain Family, allowing for rapid growth. It may not be an alliance, but it should at least become a coalition.”
Yuma nodded.
“That would be sufficient.”
“…Are you really going to trust the main heir?”
Lilith tilted her head.
Yuma spoke again.
“You’ve never told a lie.”
Yuma recalled the look in Lilith’s eyes as she watched Selene fade away. The expression on her visible face clearly showed compassion. Up until now, she had confidently told Yuma that she had never owned a slave family.
‘It was also that guy who told me to eat the monster meat.’
He remembered it looked very much like an ogre but couldn’t recall its name.
“And I could probably oversee the change of the core’s contract to the Levian lineage.”
Lilith nodded.
“Yes, if the main heir supplies the required magic power, two days should be enough.”
“That should be enough.”
“Then it’s settled. I can’t possibly know what happens next.”
Lilith snickered.
“I vow on my honor to treat the Levian family as equals to my kingdom.”
Duke Yuma said nonchalantly.
“Yeah, well, in about ten years, there will likely be a way to return to the demon realm, so we can check then.”
Lilith’s body shuddered slightly.
“W-well, what if in ten years I’m up to a little mischief? What then?”
Yuma stared at Lilith with his blue eyes for a moment.
“Well, I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Lilith’s red hair shook violently.
She imagined a massive killing intent emanating from Yuma behind her, even though he hadn’t done anything at all.
Right now, the person feeling the most absurdity in this march was none other than Karah, who was about to become the head of the Levian family.
She had only been walking quietly beside Yuma.
But now she was set to become the master of this bloodline. And she was forming an alliance with Lilith, one of the five Great Demon Kings of the demon realm.
“…Is this… everything you two said really serious?”
“It’s serious.”
Yuma spoke truthfully, for he genuinely meant it.
And the women’s voice that followed had a bit of a sharp edge to it.
“That’s right! It’s serious! Didn’t this guy just declare to the lady that if he doesn’t keep his word, he’ll come to kill me in ten years?”
Ignoring Lilith, Yuma spoke to Karah.
“Sort out who’s to be killed and who’s not. Decide whether the direct descendants of Berzette need to die or not.”
“…Are you going to kill them, Yuma?”
At Karah’s words, Yuma shook his head. There was no need for him to kill them.
“They should be killed by the hands of the Levian family. If I decide to kill anyone, I won’t hinder the one who does it.”
Karah answered heavily.
“Understood, Duke Yuma.”
“Reuben Ehendel.”
Karah’s eyes widened.
“That was the last thing Selene said to me. What does it mean?”
Karah quietly replied.
“It means to wish farewell in the ancient language… it also carries respect and reverence for the subject.”
Yuma slowly nodded and walked forward.
Indeed, the meaning was no different.
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