A/N: Don't forget to comment, review, collect and send me those beautiful powerstones for motivation so I never drop the book š
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Back in the Royal Meeting Room of Falmuth's palace, King Edmaris sat stiffly at the large table. Minister Reyheim, Earl Nidol, and Court Mage Razen were gathered with him, each wearing a troubled expression.
The atmosphere was tense.
The topic was simple, but alarming.
The mini-army they had sent to Dorugen Village that was supposed to return a day ago still had not returned.
King Edmaris leaned forward, anxiety tightening his voice.
"What do you think happened to them? Did Blumund discover something? Could they have intercepted them?"
His fingers tapped restlessly against the armrest. He was clearly panicking.
Minister Reyheim shook his head.
"That shouldn't be possible, Your Majesty. If Blumund was involved, they would have complained to us directly already."
Razen nodded calmly.
"That is true. Blumund is the kind of country that would certainly have made contact by now. What could the cause beā¦?"
He narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
"Could their mission have failed?"
Before Razen finished, Earl Nidol abruptly stood up in protest.
"They couldn't have failed Razen!" he snapped. "Commander Lark is someone I trust very much. A small mission like this, he would never fail."
But internally, Nidol seethed.
Lark better not have failed. My reputation is on the line here.
Trying to reinforce his position, Nidol turned sharply toward Razen.
"Court Mage Razen, back me up here. You screened him."
Razen nodded calmly, unfazed.
"Indeed. Unless something serious happened, Commander Lark is competent. He has good accomplishments to his name. He should not have had difficulty with such a mission."
Minister Reyheim frowned.
"This is all very strange. It makes sense they if might be lateā¦ but why did all communication cut off entirely?"
King Edmaris leaned back and pressed a hand to his forehead.
"Yesā¦ it's too strange. What could have happened?"
He exhaled shakily.
"Perhaps we should send a second squad."
Razen immediately shook his head.
"We should not, King Edmaris. Sending the first squad was within acceptable limitsā¦ but sending another might alert Blumund."
Earl Nidol nodded quickly in agreement.
"Yes, King Edmaris. And besides, this might not even be a real problem."
He cleared his throat.
"As embarrassing as it is to admitā¦ my niece is something of a troublemaker. Commander Lark may simply be off relaxing somewhere. It is not necessarily an issue of danger."
King Edmaris visibly relaxed, letting out a sigh.
"I seeā¦ if that's the case, then perhaps weā"
But an unfamiliar voice suddenly echoed through the room.
"Unfortunately, that's not the case. All of them are dead."
The four men froze.
Their heads snapped toward the darkened corner of the roomā¦
Where a silhouette stood.
A tall figure with a broad smile.
Razen immediately rose from his seat, eyes sharp.
"Who are you?" he demanded.
The figure stepped forward, revealing maroon hair, maroon sclera, 2 curving horns and a pristine maroon suit. A wide, unsettling smile stretched across his face.
"Good day, everyone," the man said cheerfully. "As for who I amā¦ I'm just a nameless demon who happened to be passing by."
The three men besides Razen panicked instantly.
"A D-Demon!?"
King Edmaris stumbled back.
"What is a demon doing here!?"
Earl Nidol shouted in alarm,
"How did he get past the barrier without us noticing!? Razen, what is happening here!?"
Razen, however, remained composed. His expression didn't waver; he looked at Haru as if facing another human rather than a demonic being.
"I am thinking the same thing, Earl Nidol." He folded his arms.
"Demon, how did you get past the barrier?"
Haru chuckled softly.
"The barrier, huh? That little thing was pretty weak, was it not?"
He tilted his head playfully.
"I disabled it with a flick of my wrist. Was it supposed to be something impressive?" he asked, feigning genuine curiosity.
Razen adjusted his glasses slightly, completely unfazed by Haru's sudden appearance.
"I see," he said calmly. "So my theory about the barrier weakening was correct. Going after that Magic Ore was indeed the right decision."
His eyes narrowed.
"But I'm guessing you had something to do with its failure."
Haru smiled brightly.
"I mean, it was pretty cruel to send trained soldiers after a poor little village, don't you think? Those villagers, in their moment of desperation, summoned me and offered all their men to me."
He paused, then added casually,
"Not in the way you're thinking, of course. I'm straight."
Razen exhaled irritably.
"I thought demons had no gender. Whatever."
His gaze sharpened.
"So after you killed all our menā¦ you came here for what good reason?"
Before Haru could answer, King Edmaris slammed a fist onto the table.
"Razen! Why are you still talking to this demon!? Kill it already!"
Minister Reyheim and Earl Nidol immediately echoed him.
"Yes! Kill it!"
"What are you waiting for!?"
Haru blinked innocently.
"Now that's cruel, Your Majesty. Not even going to invite me for tea?"
King Edmaris scoffed loudly.
"Offer you tea, my foot! Razen, what are you waiting for!?"
Razen sighed.
"Do not worry, King Edmaris. This is merely a Greater Demon. It's not much of a threat to me."
Haru chuckled.
"As expected of Court Mage Razen. When I left the village, I originally came with the intention of killing you."
Everyone froze.
"But," Haru continued, "on the way here, I heard many stories about you. Apparently, you're one of the strongest humans of this era."
His eyes gleamed, his smile widening as he licked his lips.
"So my desire to kill youā¦ has changed into a desire to fight you."
Razen clicked his tongue.
"A mere Greater Demon wishes to fight me? You still have many years before you can even dream of matching me. You are no threat."
"That might be true," Haru admitted cheerfully. "I mean, I don't even have a real body. What I came here for is a taste. How far apart are we, Razen? I'd like to know."
Razen turned toward the king, Earl Nidol, and Reyheim.
"King Edmaris, Earl Nidol, Minister Reyheim. This place may get messy. Please leave."
All three jolted upright instantly.
"Y-Yes!"
"Of course!"
"We will leave it to you!"
They practically scrambled over each other rushing toward the door.
Haru waved happily.
"Bye everyone! Next time, let's properly sit down and have a nice chat together."
King Edmaris shot him a horrified glare.
"Don't mess around! I don't want anything to do with you!"
He slammed the door shut behind him.
Now, only Haru and Razen remained.
Haru stretched his shoulders lightly.
"Well then, Razenā¦ shall we begin?"
Razen looked at him with complete composure.
"I hope you don't think this will be a contest. A bodyless Greater Demon is no match for me."
Haru grinned and dashed forward.
"Then show me the difference, Razen!"
Razen did not move.
He simply raised one hand.
His voice echoed through the room, calm, stable, absolute.
"Nuclear Strike Magic: Nuclear Cannon."
A blinding column of searing nuclear fire erupted point-blank.
The last thing Haru managed was a confusedā
"Hehā?"
Before the inferno completely engulfed him.
His form dispersed instantly, wiped from the Cardinal World.
Razen lowered his hand, observing the charred and destroyed meeting room around him.
The demon was gone without a trace.
Razen exhaled in disappointment.
"ā¦Are Greater Demons truly this weak now?"
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