The Demon King Who Draws

Chapter 41

“As they parted ways, the distance between them grew.”

“Yes, they drifted apart as if there would be no next time.”

“…Saintess.”

Kazar, along with Alon, Mary, and the paladins under Adelia, hesitated to speak.

With a swift motion…

“Everyone, please step back for a moment.”

“Understood.”

Mary, who had come to support the troops, gestured with her eyes. She might seem erratic, but she was a paladin of standing. At least, her commanding presence didn’t seem out of place to the soldiers.

Mary glanced around and then shifted her gaze to Kazar, her fellow paladin. It seemed he had something to say.

The burly man with a serious expression began to speak earnestly.

“Lady Adelia, may this fool speak?”

“…By all means.”

“One thing, I’m not sure if the mastermind behind Baron Grimhall will stay quiet.”

“The mastermind… remains unknown, doesn’t it?”

“It’s clear that Baron Grimhall had orders to infiltrate the Ves Church. However, the current Grimhall was such a wretch that the incident concluded at this level.”

Adelia and Faust each had information they kept hidden. Faust concealed his dungeon and name, while Adelia hid the background of the Baron Grimhall incident.

In truth, if Lanford Grimhall had been a patient man, he would have bided his time and infiltrated the Ves Church for a long time.

But he was a young wolf, not clever enough to hide his claws, having inherited the family not long after the sudden death of the previous head.

He couldn’t gauge the extent of his power and instead was eager to flaunt it.

Perhaps the mastermind behind Lanford Grimhall is now struck down with anger upon hearing the news of this incident.

“Wouldn’t it be fortunate to think that we’ve easily crushed Grimhall’s influence, which could have negatively affected the order?”

“That’s… not incorrect, but…”

“Moreover, it’s fortunate that we could save even one life.”

“…That’s true.”

It’s regrettable that we couldn’t clearly expose Grimhall’s mastermind, but to wish for more would be greedy. It was a situation that could have endangered lives.

“Then again, Lanford may be a fool, but he governs a territory. The incident at the manor might attract the unnecessary attention of the nobles.”

Adelia responded without a change in expression.

“This place is the frontier of the Aslan Empire, the very edge of it. There are those who would intervene for the rights to the Great Forest.”

“That’s a concern.”

“Rather, that’s why it’s alright.”

“What?”

“With the central power now greatly weakened, their order is practically crumbling. The more who covet Grimhall’s territory, the deeper their chaos will become.”

“Are you saying that increased chaos is preferable?”

“It’s better than a jackal like Grimhall having power. When the victor is decided later, the Ves Church can simply reach out.”

“Hmm… If that’s possible, then it’s not wrong.”

Aslan has been decaying since Solomon’s ascension. Warlords and wealthy nobles rise to carve up Aslan’s stale cake, each taking their share.

What Adelia meant was that in such a situation, there would be more jackals seeking to profit from the chaos than the cause of the chaos itself. For the Ves Church, driving away these jackals wouldn’t be too difficult.

The incident will likely be buried more smoothly than feared. Especially if the Ves Church employs its covert influence in politics.

“One last thing… I trust you already know this without me saying.”

“Pawns… indeed.”

“Yes. They are demons, and those who command demons.”

“Hmm…”

“Lady Adelia. We serve the god of the veil, Ves, but fundamentally, we are believers. Even if the doctrine of the Ves Church embraces all creation, allying with demons is…”

Mary couldn’t help but interject, nodding vigorously.

“Right! Demons have always been harbingers of calamity on this land.”

“…”

“Saintess?”

Adelia pondered for a moment before smiling broadly.

“If not for him, who would have saved us from the jaws of the beast?”

“But still…”

“A demon! A demon, I tell you! Not a subject for trade or compromise!”

“…Who decided that?”

“Well…”

That’s not mentioned in the doctrine of the Ves Church.

“The doctrine of the Ruber Church, the state religion of Aslan… isn’t it?”

“…Yes.”

“You all know why the Ves Church decided to arm itself in the past.”

“It was the massacre of the demonkind.”

“Yes. They gathered under Solomon’s banner and mercilessly slaughtered tens of millions of demonkind across the Solaria continent. The citizens and followers of Aslan, who were human, either condoned or remained silent throughout the slaughter.”

“…”

“Can we truly say they are different from demons?”

Mary clamped her mouth shut.

Are demons truly the opposite of good? Or rather, who defines what is good?

“Everything is blurred, but the undeniable truth is that a demon saved us that day.”

“…Yes.”

“There’s no need to forcibly embrace him. He’s one to leave on his own accord. However…”

The saintess smiled.

“Who knows when Ves might visit my dreams again.”

“Perhaps it’s best to postpone the discussion about demons until then.”

* * *

After receiving a report in Liudira, I set off for the dungeon.

According to my informant, only a handful had entered the Great Forest while I visited the black market, and they were of no consequence.

I was tense on my way to Liudira, fearing the dungeon might have been attacked, but fortunately, it seemed there were no issues.

On the way back, there was no particular conversation.

The carriage couldn’t enter the Great Forest, and the heavy chests were moved with the help of Amon’s mechanical hand.

Since Bill and Mori had to stay in Liudira, it couldn’t be helped. Neither the powerless Lucifer nor I, who tires quickly, could carry them.

‘I wish the goblins or orcs would come out to meet us…’

But I couldn’t risk exposing them, so I kept that thought to myself.

‘If you die outside the dungeon, you really die.’

Death outside the dungeon core’s control meant permanent death.

That’s why only the strong accompany me on espionage missions.

Anyway, without conversation, all I could do to alleviate the boredom was to enjoy the scenery and ponder.

In fact, I needed time to think.

I had to reflect on the transactions at the black market and my contact with the saintess.

Especially the contact with the saintess, which proved that much of what I knew was just the tip of the iceberg.

‘A connection with the Ves Church…’

An encounter with Saintess Adelia?

No user had experienced such an event during espionage activities.

In other words, I engaged in espionage of a different dimension than what I knew and understood. I had assumed at best I would gather some information and delay the pursuit of the dungeon, but it was an entirely unexpected harvest.

I had to determine whether the new information I learned was a seed of destruction or a gateway to a new era.

‘Clearly, it’s the latter. Especially now.’

There are sources of magic stones outside the dungeon, and despite the risks, the rewards are great. How could that be bad?

‘Of course, meeting Adelia was a stroke of luck.’

If it had been another person, someone likely to betray…

‘I need to rethink the importance of espionage activities. And the gacha plan.’

I might have to completely revise the plan to conserve resources and enhance strength when the odds are better. Instead, investing resources early to build a foundation for espionage and scraping together magic stones to recoup resources is starting to seem like a viable blueprint.

‘Once I return…’

In the midst of my thoughts, I realized I had reached the suspension bridge.

The bridge had collapsed once on a rainy day but was restored by the power of the dark elf queen Ariel. Being one with the power over trees and forests, such a task was accomplished with a mere gesture.

Arriving at the suspension bridge meant the dungeon was just ahead. Soon, a familiar figure appeared.

Hair as red as the sunset.

Visible even from afar.

It was Phenex.

“Master!”

She called out with her hands cupped.

“…Phenex, did you come to meet me?”

She smiled and said.

“I smelled you from afar!”

I brushed past Phenex, placing my hand on her head as I passed.

“…I’m back.”

She grinned broadly.

“Yes! Welcome home.”

Finally, I was home.

* * *

While I was away, it seems there were no major issues.

Ariel spoke of a group of adventurers who had lost their way and lurked near the dungeon but apparently remained undiscovered.

‘I was lucky.’

It was as if I had left my heart at home and neglected to lock the doors. Such carelessness won’t happen again.

‘I need to increase my power.’

The lesson from this incident is clear: enhancing my strength is essential.

Targeting the demon I desire through extreme squeezing is only feasible when the dungeon runs smoothly.

While I’m in the dungeon, it’s possible, but when I’m out on espionage, the dungeon’s power weakens significantly.

I must reinforce this aspect so that the dungeon can operate even in my absence.

‘Now that I’ve secured a source of magic stones, there’s no need to tremble with anxiety.’

And that’s why I’m standing before the gates of hell, in front of Azelub.

“Yes… If there’s a sacrifice, I’m willing.”

Azelub looks the same as always, despite my long absence.

‘How many magic stones will I need to use?’

The answer is predetermined.

Until I draw what I desire.

So, what do I want?

The demon Poseidon from this pickup?

‘That would be fine. As long as the field is set.’

Poseidon, the demon of the sea.

Even if not the sea, a lake-sized field would suffice for him to fulfill his role.

Especially in boss battles, despite being an early demon of Remegeton, he was popular among users for inducing significant underwater melee.

But, in truth, I don’t expect much.

Considering the magic stones I currently have, I can do a little over 60 draws. If I pour all my stones in, I might draw a demon, but I’d like to keep a reasonable amount.

That means it’s not essential to draw a demon.

‘What’s important… is a new area?’

A new area, not the forest Ariel oversees. A field with different attributes than the forest is needed.

Perhaps the lightning attribute of Amon or the flame attribute of Phenex would be suitable. Once the field is set, I can use a demon as the leader.

Then I’ll need a certain number of familiars and traps to make up the field. It would be nice to get some useful equipment for curses or familiars to wear, but honestly, gathering familiars is much more urgent.

‘First, I must collect the familiars that correspond to the field I need to create.’

At least five.

Whether lightning or flame, I need five familiars.

And what else is urgent…

‘I need an elite familiar. A 5-star humanoid.’

I need more talent for espionage activities. Bill and Mori are currently available, but they have their limits.

‘In the long run, it’s right to replace most of the external forces I command with my own familiars.’

Operating an unreliable external group is something I’ll eventually have to give up.

Well, now that things seem to be in order…

“Begin.”

“Kekeke… Good…”

Whooooosh…

The magic stones turned to dust and were sucked into Azelub. A whole chest’s worth of magic stones vanished, making it ten draws.

Fzzzzzzt…

When I did ten draws, the light that first flowed from Azelub’s eyes was the same as the highest grade summon from the ten draws.

Fzzzzzzt…

“…Hmm?”

A brilliant orange.

‘…It’s a 5-star.’

On the first ten draws, a 5-star appeared.