Gozine

A clear light rises from the ground.

The traces of a teleportation magic.
It was something Nox had planned immediately after defeating Amdusias, for moving to that place to protect the last Philosopher’s Stone, Paracelsus.

Esteban watched him with drowsy eyes and willingly allowed himself to be swept up in the formula.

It looked as if he were watching with amusement, as if struggling like a mayfly was entertaining.

The guy slowly spoke to Nox.

“For a demon, you possess quite useful power.”

“Former Emperor Esteban.”

Nox speaks without respect anymore. Even if he is the former emperor, he is clearly an enemy now.
It was also true that such honorifics didn’t suit Nox who had been a ruffian from the start, but Esteban was now an enemy threatening his companions.
There was no reason for him to speak kindly.

When the teleportation formula finally spat them out onto the battlefield where his companions including Paracelsus were, Nox calmly looked up at the enemy before him.

The Sun King. The Emperor.
Esteban the fool.

Though he had many nicknames, one certain fact was that he was a monster.

“Nox von Reinhaver. A name I’ve often heard in the demons’ meetings. We also met when I first opened Arkriver. Though back then, I saw you under the name of the foolish emperor.”

“If you’re talking about the fool when you were First Prince Louis’ puppet, then yes. I did see you back then.”

“I knew your talent was unusual. But to grow this much… I hadn’t predicted this.”

“Is that particularly meaningful?”

“Of course.”

Esteban continued.

“Because I know you’re using demonic power. If the first family head was a demon itself, you are not. You’re borrowing demonic power, merely exerting the power of an imitation, aren’t you? Yet to have that level of power. It’s fascinating and astonishing.”

“Whether it’s demonic power or something else, I intend to use anything to protect what I must. That hasn’t changed.”

Nox continued with a suspicious smile.

“You failed to protect, but I won’t. 27 times is already enough. Losing someone… as you know, it’s truly horrible.”

“Indeed.. For that, I’ll make you a proposal.”

Esteban said while gauging Nox’s reaction.
Then he reached out his hand to Nox and continued.

“Your goal is to deal with the demons, right? Then, achieving what you want would be easier. I will help you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Literally. The 72 demons. I also hold considerable ill will towards them. So I intend to kill them. I will eliminate every single one without leaving any behind.”

“Esteban the fool will?”

“Yes.”

“I refuse.”

Nox firmly refused.

Of course, Esteban was a strong figure, capable of easily defeating Amdusias just like earlier. But fighting alongside him would be difficult.
From the start, Esteban was an opponent who could turn hostile again at any moment, and now he was trying to destroy the imperial family which had become his daughter’s, and build a new nation.

This was not something to be taken lightly.

Penelope’s legitimacy had been proven, and she was leading the people as the emperor.
An emperor who unable to admit his own faults, tries to destroy the nation under the pretext of correction?

He might be more dangerous than the demons.

“I will stop you from destroying Arkheim.”

“It’s not a nation you built, is it? You must already know? That this nation is already crumbling. That my daughter Penelope doesn’t have the power to rule this nation.”

“Nothing can be perfect from the start. Give her a chance before spouting such nonsense.”

“Anyway. It seems we disagree.”

Rumble!

Mana bursts forth as it is grasped in Esteban’s hand. It soon takes the form of black lightning.

Unstable mana baring its fangs towards Nox.
Nox also dyes his Black Sword to its limit and looks at the enemy.

He must kill him here.
Amdusias is gone, but Esteban is a new variable.
End it here.

Nox leaped.

Instantly, blooming black roses swirl around.

Lightning sweeps them away.

With a loud explosion, after the smoke clears. The spot where the two stood is deeply cratered.

Wounds begin to appear on each other’s shoulders and abdomens.

The corner of Nox’s mouth subtly rose. He let out a short sigh.
As Nox clearly realized he was breaking, he prepared his next sword.
Esteban also responded.

Confident that he would not lose, Nox mixed his next sword. From a distance, someone shouted and intervening in the fight between the two.
It was none other than Esteban’s daughter.
Penelope von Arkheim.

“He is my opponent. Nox.”

But her goal was the same as Nox’s.

“He is still an enemy too difficult for Your Majesty to handle. In addition…”

“Yes, you’re right. He is my father. But does that particularly matter?”

Penelope’s eyes turned cold.

“If they are trying to destroy my nation, I will not forgive anyone. That is all, so don’t worry.”

Ultimately, their goal was to stop Esteban and further prevent Baal’s resurrection.

The princess was the same, and Nox silently stepped aside.
After all, he had more to do.

The demon who would be resurrected at the end of this chapter. It would be best to prevent his resurrection, but if that was impossible, then the only one who could defeat him was Nox alone.

**********

Huu.

I let out a short breath.

Central of the Imperial Capital. As the fight between Esteban and Penelope began, Nox was briefly moving somewhere.

‘Demon Baal resurrects randomly. I don’t know where he will appear. I must search the entire imperial palace. Amdusias probably isn’t completely dead yet. Though his power was taken, it’s highly likely he survived in the form of fragment.’

Thinking this, Nox briefly recalled Amdusias who had spoken about the first family head.

Nox von Reinhaver.

Actually, he had a rough guess about the secret of Jin von Reinhaver.
The eyes that manifested when he killed Garen and that secret.
Could he assert that this had no connection to the first family head and the family’s curse?

No.

He definitely couldn’t say that.
What was certain was that Nox had now finished understanding his identity.

The seed of a demon lurks within his blood.
This fact would also be of great help in the process of possessing Baal within his own body in order to defeat him.

Anyway, a demon accepting a demon. And.
A demonic human accepting a demon would only be advantageous, wouldn’t it? Even having dark element doesn’t make it easy to accept him after all.
Baal is the greatest demon, and sacrifice is inevitable in the process of defeating him.

Even the plan to have him possess his own body could fail.
Nox knew this well and realized that the possibility was now even lower.

[Dammit… I’ve lost too much power!]

At that moment, a black alien mana shot forth. It was demon’s mana, belonging to the one who had been bothering Nox until now.

Amdusias.
As expected, he hadn’t completely vanished and had survived in fragment form.

But seeing him noticeably weakened, Nox smiled at the corner of his mouth.

This is worth a try.

The confident Nox looked at the mess before him.
He looked at Amdusias.

The guy had lost his horns and was sprawled on the ground.

Even though he was a Grand Duke demon, he had lost his will to fight after just receiving one sword strike.
This was hardly a fight he could handle.

Both of his arms were already severed.

He could regenerate, but the reason Nox hadn’t finished him off was solely because he had more to hear from him.

“The curse passed down in the Reinhaver family. Tell me about it.”

His eyes were already those of a demon, so Amdusias reached a point where he could hardly distinguish whether what was before him was Baal or the youngest son of the Reinhaver family.

How could such mana come from a human?
Nox pressed him in this incomprehensible situation, thrusting the sword in his hand towards his neck.

“No more nonsense. Amdusias.”

“…What if I don’t talk about the Reinhaver family’s curse?”

“Whether you do or not, I’ll kill you. But….”

Nox said expressionlessly.

“As you said, I can decide between a comfortable death and an uncomfortable one.”

The arrogant words of one who holds the power of life and death.
This was enough to instill primal fear in Amdusias.
Though it was a form of promise, it was an unfair promise that someone didn’t have to keep.
This was familiar to demons, and the problem was that it returned to him.
And in the most humiliating form.

Amdusias opened his tightly shut mouth.

“The curse of the Reinhaver family is a restriction that Jin von Reinhaver received upon leaving Pandemonium.”

“Restriction?”

Nox had also heard related stories.
Demons are inherently lowly and sinister existences, so they form their own groups and impose disadvantages on those who leave.
Then it made sense.

‘Jin realized he couldn’t find what he wanted and left the demon group. So the curse on the family came about.’

“But when the curse was placed, Jin had no wife. No children either. So he acted indifferently instead. But at some point, as humans tend to be foolish, he became stupid. Love sprouted, and he asked Baal to lift the curse. However.”

“Baal didn’t want to see the descendants of a strong person who could threaten him running rampant, so he didn’t allow it. Is that it?”

“…That’s right. The conditions Baal set for Jin leaving Pandemonium were two. One was not to harm him and Pandemonium, the other was that curse. Since there was no magic to prevent having descendants, he made them sacrifice those who would become family heads. The excellent ones among the bloodline.”

“Interesting.”

“If it’s interesting enough to spare me, that would be best, but…”

Amdusias swallowed hard and shook his head.

“Seems that’s not quite the case.”

Chwat!

Nox swiftly swung his sword and cut him down.
There was no reason to keep the promise, but it was problematic for him to stall for too long. Who knows if he could maintain this state for long anyway.

Devilization.

It’s clearly a good card that allows him to exert excellent power, but it’s dangerous.
It’s not just talk; this was a very powerful and chaotic force that could truly take everything away.

Just seeing how negative selves began to eat away at Nox’s mind showed that.

Before long, the black fog began to clear.
Back on the battlefield, his companions had gathered.

Except for one who had gone to the southern frontline, Leon von Marvas.

**********

Southern frontline.
Was it true that only one person participated here?
Thinking many would ask and even more would believe it lies, but this was a fact.

Leon von Marvas.
The young family head of the necromancer family looked at the soldiers swarming over the horizon.
Roughly estimating thousands, he thought indifferently as he manipulated mana.
Mana stones were scattered messily on the ground around.
A voice from enemy forces shouting could be heard.

It seemed to be one of the Grand Dukes, but who exactly didn’t matter.

[Surrender now! There’s no chance for you to win this battle!]

“Hmm. Why should I do that?”

Leon scratched the bridge of his nose curiously and asked.
The Grand Duke replied as if it were absurd.

[Do you think you can handle this many numbers alone?]

[Or are you saying I’m ridiculous!]

“I don’t think you’re ridiculous. But if you’re asking if I can handle them alone and kill them all… Yes. It’s possible.”

[Such insolence…!]

The Grand Duke couldn’t hold back his anger and shouted.

What nonsense was this brazen brat spouting?
No matter how low his rank among the Grand Dukes, just seeing thousands of soldiers behind him should make him piss himself.

A natural truth.

It was also fitting for demons to instill fear in humans.
But Leon was calm.

Actually, looking back….
Such a battle was familiar to him.

When he first fought the territory battle for his family?
It was the same then.

All his vassals said he couldn’t win, but he turned the situation around.

Thousands of soldiers?
At least to Leon, it didn’t mean much.

Precisely, this mob army meant nothing to Leon who was overflowing with magic stones.

Necromancer.
Leon knew his strength.

Slowly gathering mana, he looked at the approaching enemies and activated his magic.
Simultaneously, he began to mutter softly.

“O souls who could not even find peace, the legitimate heir of Marvas family calls upon you.”

Rumble.

Instantly, the charging enemy soldiers halted.
They sensed something strange.

But before they could react, Leon continued the incantation.

“Clad in death, fulfill your wishes and shake off the dust of this world.”

The ground trembled, and starting with Leon, purple-tinged mana spread across the ground like a spider’s web.

“Fight for Leon von Marvas.”

It gradually expanded the area, stopping at several points.
Leon knew exactly where those points were.
He completed the final sentence.

“I declare in the name of Leon von Marvas. The outcome of this battle is determined.”

Leon lightly smiled.

“By me, Leon von Marvas.”

The spots where the dead from the previous war remained.
On that ground, the dead who could not find peace still wandered unjustly, yearning for their wishes.

“Good. With this number, it should be quite sufficient.”

[…What nonsense is this?]

The Grand Duke feeling something unusual, asked.
Leon shrugged.
Then he began to channel his mana at once.

Gwaaaaa…!!

Instantly, hundreds to thousands of skeleton soldiers burst through the purplet ground, rising all at once.
The Grand Duke couldn’t help but panic.
No matter how relatively weak, he was still a Grand Duke.
A commander recognized since ancient times for leading demons.
But this power….

‘No doubt. It’s his power.’

Marvas.

The power of Black Lion Marvas, another demon who betrayed Pandemonium.
But strange.

‘Since the first family head, no necromancer should have appeared in the Marvas family…?’

“You seem to be thinking too much. Shall I help you resolve it?”

Before he could answer, Leon added nonchalantly.

“Maybe after death, you won’t be able to continue thinking, so it will help you.”

[You crazy bastard!]

With his pretty, model student young master appearance, it was natural to think he was nothing. But from coming here alone to summoning undead like this…
No matter how you thought about it, this was power beyond norm.

Dangerous.

He felt a strong conviction, but as a Grand Duke, he still had several options.
Anyway, he couldn’t turn the army around, and though the numbers increased, if he killed the caster, Leon’s large undead army would come to nothing.

Then.

Dash!

He makes the first move.

The Grand Duke charged, closing the distance to Leon in an instant, and fired a condensed mana bullet at close range. A huge explosion sound, Kwang, was heard, and dust swirled.

‘Sure. The caster must be weak. If I poured this much mana at once, I should be able to kill him easily…’

But the thought couldn’t continue.

Leon von Marvas’s voice was heard.
From within the swirling dust.
Leon’s figure was revealed.

“Quite lacking in manners. And here I was being considerate.”

[Damn it.]

The reason Leon survived?
Actually, it was clear.

“Thank you. Legion Commander.”

Leon’s thanks were obviously not directed at the Grand Duke.
To add, not even a person.

The undead behind Leon, holding a greatsword, had blocked the mana bullet.
He was simply giving thanks towards the Death Knight.

Despair.
A sense of complete defeat seized the Grand Duke as Leon walked towards him and continued.

“If you want it to end quickly, I’ll do that for you. Everyone, please come out.”

A portal opened behind him, and this time, existences of the same rank as the Death Knight came out and began to line up beside Leon.
Each one clearly a Legion Commander-level powerhouse.
If he had to fight all of them, this war.

‘Might be lost.’

The Grand Duke felt his Adam’s apple throbbing madly and could do nothing but repeat the words Leon had said earlier.
The arrogant words of a little brat who said the outcome would be determined solely by him.

His predetermined future was only death.

He had already lost before the battle even continued.

“Go.”

With Leon’s voice, numerous soldiers began to tear through the enemy lines to mark the end.
A spectacle.
It was the most fitting expression for the scene on the battlefield.

A true example showing what a necromancer is.
However, there was one problem.

‘I’ve incurred more debt to the family….’

Leon’s face filled with worry.
Because he had purchased a large quantity of magic stones from Eleanor for the final battle.
Though it was to raise an army, the price was outrageous.
Leon could only let out a small sigh at the future of being scolded by the family’s accounting manager.