The room settled.
Not into silence.
But into order.
Guy Crimson stood at the head of the chamber, his presence naturally pulling the attention of every Demon Lord present. The earlier tension, the curiosity, the quiet calculations. They all remained, but now they were contained.
Directed.
Focused.
"This year's Walpurgis," Guy began, voice smooth yet carrying an undeniable authority, "has been called for a single matter."
His gaze shifted.
Landing directly on Loki.
"The emergence of a new Demon Lord."
A pause.
Then—
"One who did not wait for acknowledgment."
Loki leaned back slightly in his seat, one leg crossing over the other.
Unbothered.
Guy continued.
"A kingdom taken."
"An army erased."
"Multiple Primordials brought under one banner."
His smile sharpened just a little.
"And no prior consultation."
Carrion let out a low whistle.
"Yeah… when you list it like that."
Frey's eyes flickered toward Loki again.
More analytical now.
Guy folded his arms.
"So."
He glanced around the table.
"Those who called for this Walpurgis may speak."
There was a brief pause.
Then Frey spoke first.
As expected.
She sat with her usual elegance, wings tucked neatly behind her, posture relaxed but attentive.
"Very well."
Her gaze settled on Loki.
Not with hostility.
But not friendly either.
"Demon Lord Loki," she said calmly, "I would like to ask a few questions."
Loki met her eyes.
"Go ahead."
Frey nodded slightly.
"Your actions have been… abrupt."
A polite way of putting it.
"You appeared, claimed power, and established a domain in a very short time."
Her gaze sharpened just a little.
"What is your objective?"
Simple and direct.
The room quieted again.
Waiting.
Loki tilted his head slightly.
"Objective, huh."
He thought for a second.
Then—
"I don't really have one."
A pause.
Frey blinked once.
"…I see."
Loki shrugged.
"I just do what I feel like doing."
Carrion grinned.
"Honest."
Clayman scoffed.
Frey, however, didn't react immediately.
Instead, she continued.
"Then your conquest of Coleus. Was that also something you simply 'felt like doing'?"
Loki nodded.
"Pretty much."
A few brows twitched.
Frey tapped a finger lightly against her arm.
"And what of its people?"
Her tone didn't change.
But the question carried weight.
Loki answered just as casually.
"I'm taking care of them."
That got a reaction.
Frey studied him.
"…In what sense?"
"They're under my rule now," Loki said. "So they're my responsibility."
Simple.
Straightforward.
Uncomplicated.
Frey's gaze lingered on him for a moment longer.
Then she nodded.
"I see."
It wasn't agreement.
But it wasn't rejection either.
She leaned back slightly.
"Then my final question."
Loki gestured lightly.
"Go ahead."
Frey's eyes sharpened again.
"Do you intend to disrupt the balance of power among Demon Lords?"
The room stilled.
That question mattered more than the others.
Loki looked at her.
Then smiled faintly.
"If the balance breaks that easily…"
He shrugged.
"…then it wasn't much of a balance to begin with."
Carrion laughed.
Loud.
"Ha! I like that!"
Dagruel didn't laugh.
But he didn't disagree either.
Frey held his gaze for a second longer.
Then—
She nodded once.
"…Understood."
She leaned back.
Finished.
Guy glanced toward the other side of the table.
"Next."
Clayman didn't hesitate.
Of course he didn't.
He leaned forward, fingers interlocked, his smile returning, but sharper now. More pointed.
"Gladly."
His eyes locked onto Loki.
Cold and judging.
"You claim a seat among us."
Loki blinked.
"Do I?"
Clayman's smile twitched.
"You stand here as a self-proclaimed Demon Lord."
"That part's true."
"And yet," Clayman continued, voice tightening slightly, "you have not followed any of the established order."
Loki tilted his head.
"There's an order?"
A few people looked away.
Carrion chuckled under his breath.
Clayman ignored it.
"You appeared without notice."
"You seized a nation without consensus."
"You gathered Primordials under your command, an act that alone threatens the stability of this entire council."
His voice rose slightly.
Controlled anger.
"And you expect to be accepted?"
The room watched.
Carefully.
Clayman leaned forward further.
"I, for one, cannot acknowledge you."
There it was.
Direct and clear.
"I reject your claim to this council."
A pause.
Then he added—
"You are nothing more than a dangerous anomaly."
The words hung in the air.
Provocative.
Loki looked… confused.
Not offended.
Not angry.
Just—
"…Huh?"
Clayman's eye twitched.
Loki frowned slightly.
"What's your problem?"
The room froze.
Clayman's smile cracked.
"You dare—"
"No, seriously," Loki cut in, genuinely curious. "Did I do something to you?"
Silence.
Clayman stared at him.
Loki continued.
"I don't even know you."
That made it worse.
Much worse.
Clayman's aura flared slightly.
"You mock this council—"
"I'm not mocking anything," Loki said. "I'm asking."
His tone remained casual.
Almost innocent.
"Why do you hate me?"
No sarcasm.
No hidden jab.
Just a straight question.
Clayman's expression darkened completely.
Because there wasn't a simple answer.
Not one he could say out loud.
Not without exposing too much.
So instead—
He scoffed.
"It is not hatred."
"Sounds like it."
"It is judgment."
"Based on what?"
Clayman didn't answer.
Not directly.
Instead—
"You are unfit to stand among us."
He leaned back.
Decision made.
Final.
"I will not acknowledge you as a Demon Lord."
The room went quiet again.
Not because everyone agreed.
But because the line had been drawn.
Guy watched it all.
Calm.
Uninterrupted.
Then—
He spoke.
"Alright."
The tension eased just slightly.
Not gone.
But controlled again.
Guy looked at Loki.
"Well?"
A small smile formed on his face.
"Anything you'd like to say?"
The room turned.
All eyes on Loki again.
For a moment—
He said nothing.
Then—
He smiled.
Slowly.
And stood up.
"Of course."
Loki stood.
Just a simple motion that somehow drew every eye in the room back to him again.
He stretched his shoulders slightly, like someone preparing to speak casually rather than plead before the most dangerous beings in the world.
Then he looked around the table.
One by one.
Clayman.
Frey.
Carrion.
Dagruel.
Leon.
Milim.
Ramiris.
Dino.
Guy.
Even Luminous, still seated in silence.
Then he spoke.
"Alright."
His voice was calm.
Unforced.
"I'll keep it simple."
A pause.
"I didn't ask to be a Demon Lord."
That line landed oddly.
Not wrong.
But unexpected.
"I became one."
He shrugged lightly.
"Big difference."
Carrion nodded slightly.
Frey watched closely.
Clayman's eyes narrowed.
Loki continued.
"You're talking about rules. Order. Process."
He tilted his head.
"I didn't see any of that when I got here."
A few glances shifted around the table.
Loki gestured loosely.
"I saw strength."
"Territory."
"Authority taken and held."
He smiled faintly.
"So I did the same thing."
He took a few steps forward, hands casually in his pockets.
"I took a kingdom."
"Yes."
"I wiped out an army."
"Also yes."
"No denial there."
Clayman scoffed.
Loki ignored him.
"But let's clear something up."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"Coleus."
A brief pause.
"The king was planning to sacrifice his own daughter to extend his life."
Frey's eyes flickered.
Carrion frowned slightly.
Loki continued.
"I removed him."
"I took the throne."
"And I stabilized the country immediately after."
He looked around again.
"If that's a crime… then you've all committed worse."
Silence.
No one denied it.
Because no one could.
Loki's tone remained even.
"As for the people."
"They're alive."
"They're safe."
"They're being taken care of."
He shrugged again.
"I don't really see the issue."
Frey studied him quietly.
'He's not lying…'
Loki shifted his gaze toward Clayman.
"And you."
Clayman's jaw tightened.
"You're saying I'm dangerous."
"That I disrupt the balance."
Loki smiled slightly.
"Then prove it."
A pause.
"Show me where I've caused damage that matters to this council."
Clayman opened his mouth—
Then stopped.
Because again—
There wasn't a clean answer.
Loki pressed.
"Did I attack any of you?"
"No."
"Did I interfere with your territories?"
"No."
"Did I break any agreement that actually involves you?"
Silence.
Loki spread his hands slightly.
"So what's the problem?"
The room felt… different now.
Not convinced.
But shifting.
Carrion leaned back, clearly entertained.
Frey looked thoughtful.
Dagruel remained still but attentive.
Leon's gaze hadn't left Loki once.
Even Ramiris looked impressed.
"Woah…"
Loki exhaled lightly.
Then added one last thing.
"As for the Primordials."
He glanced back slightly toward Testarossa and Ultima.
"They chose to follow me."
Simple.
No arrogance.
No theatrics.
"Same way yours chose you."
He looked back at Guy.
"That enough?"
A pause.
The room held its breath.
Not literally.
But close enough.
Carrion was the first to speak.
"He's got a point."
Frey didn't disagree.
"…His actions, while abrupt, do not contradict the nature of Demon Lords."
Dagruel gave a slow nod.
"He stands on strength."
Leon remained silent.
But his lack of objection spoke volumes.
Even Ramiris nodded enthusiastically.
"Yeah! He's cool!"
The weight in the room shifted.
Subtly.
But undeniably.
And that—
That was when Clayman snapped.
"You're all fools!"
His aura surged violently as he shot to his feet.
"This is absurd!"
His eyes locked onto Loki, filled with rage now—no longer controlled.
"You would accept this thing among us!?"
Loki blinked.
"…Thing?"
Clayman didn't stop.
"He's a threat!"
"A destabilizing force!"
"And you're just going to welcome him!?"
His magicules flared.
Wild.
Unstable.
Driven by anger more than reason.
"And you—"
He pointed at Loki.
"—will not take a seat among us while I stand here!"
Then—
He moved.
Fast.
Faster than most expected.
A direct lunge.
Intent clear.
Kill.
But—
He never reached.
A blur cut across the space between them.
A single motion.
Sharp.
Precise.
And then—
CRACK.
Clayman's body vanished from his position and was sent flying across the chamber, crashing violently through the air before slamming into the far wall.
The entire room shook.
Silence followed.
Then—
Ultima lowered her leg.
"…Wow."
Her voice was light.
Mocking.
"I thought you'd at least make it a little interesting."
She tilted her head slightly, looking toward the crater in the wall.
"That was disappointing."
Dust settled.
Slowly.
Then—
Clayman stood.
Unsteady at first.
Then firm.
His expression twisted.
Rage.
Humiliation.
Killing intent spilling out uncontrollably now.
"…You dare…"
His voice trembled with fury.
His gaze swept the room.
At Loki.
At Ultima.
At everyone.
"…Fine."
His lips curled.
"You've made your choice."
The air grew colder.
More dangerous.
"Then I'll kill you all."
The declaration hung in the chamber.
---
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