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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Xrecker
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After Archmage Kaldrash disappeared down the hallway with Seneca, the Demon Lord, left alone in the audience chamber, fell into deep thought.
What is he thinking?
His initial offer had been a desperate gamble, a way to buy time until his subordinates, alerted to the Hero’s intrusion, could arrive.
He hadn’t expected the Hero’s staunch companion to actually accept.
And yet, Kaldrash had readily agreed.
It was truly unexpected.
The Mad Mage, Kaldrash.
One of only seventeen Archmages capable of wielding Hexa Spells in this vast land.
His specialization in wide-area destruction magic and ruthless methods had earned him the moniker “Mad Mage” among his allies and “The Butcher” among the demons, despite having another official title.
As an enemy, he had been incredibly formidable, but as an ally… he was a double-edged sword.
…Should I be happy about this, or not?
An Archmage wielding Hexa Spells, classified as tactical-level magic, was practically a walking army.
If utilized correctly, he would be an invaluable asset. However, judging by his past actions, Kaldrash was a ticking time bomb.
Furthermore, there were bound to be those within the Demon army who held personal grudges against him.
If the Demon Lord openly favored him simply for being a subordinate, it could weaken his political standing.
For now, I must keep his defection a secret.
News of Kaldrash’s allegiance would undoubtedly cause a great stir, whether beneficial or detrimental, it was sure to be disruptive.
After much deliberation, the Demon Lord pulled out the copy of the Geass Scroll he had received from Kaldrash and immediately tucked away.
I, Kaldrash, shall receive half of the conquered lands once the Demon Lord achieves world domination.
I, Kaldrash, shall never betray the Demon Lord until the above clause is fulfilled.
The Demon Lord Nero shall uphold his promise to me, Kaldrash.
The Demon Lord Nero has the right to request my assistance at any time.
If any of the above conditions are violated, the responsible party forfeits their life to the other.
Five oaths made just a few hours ago.
But would this be enough to leash such a ferocious beast?
Such worries plagued him, but there was no other viable option. He had no choice but to trust Kaldrash’s words for now.
Fortunately, with the Hero, his biggest headache, out of the picture, he could finally focus on domestic affairs.
A grand plan began to form in the Demon Lord’s mind.
He would spend the remainder of the year tending to the lands ravaged by the long war, consolidate his forces, and launch a new offensive in the spring.
Perfect.
When things calm down, I should send him on a solo mission.
Deploying Kaldrash to the Eastern Front, the main battleground between the kingdom’s army and the demons, and letting him rampage freely wouldn’t be a bad idea.
“Kukuku…”
Imagining the kingdom’s army suffering at Kaldrash’s hands, the Demon Lord chuckled wickedly on his throne.
He carefully folded the scroll containing the oaths, as if afraid it might tear in the wind, and tucked it back into his robes.
This would be kept in the safe in his bedroom.
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The morning after betraying my companions was remarkably refreshing.
Waking up early as usual, I made my bed and sat cross-legged on the floor to begin my daily meditation routine.
“Suuh…”
As the imaginary mana furnace within me began to spin, mana swirled around it, circulating throughout my body.
It was similar to the circulation of inner energy described in martial arts novels.
While the impurities accumulated overnight were expelled, I reminisced about the past.
I had spent most of the past year with the Hero sleeping rough.
I hadn’t really minded.
I could fall asleep anywhere, and the discomfort of sleeping outdoors was something all the party members shared.
What I truly couldn’t stand, however, was when we stayed in villages during our travels.
Whenever the Hero’s party visited a village, the local authorities naturally focused their attention on the Hero.
As the center of the party, this was unavoidable, but I resented being treated dismissively simply because I was an ordinary party member.
Knock, knock
A sudden knock interrupted my meditation.
I checked the time; about thirty minutes had passed.
“Guest, may I enter?”
“Yes, come in.”
After receiving permission, a white-haired maid cautiously opened the door and entered.
“I’ve brought water for you to wash your face.”
“Ah, thank you.”
She was a succubus. At first glance, she appeared to be a beautiful human woman, but the bat wings on her back and the tail peeking out from beneath her skirt betrayed her true nature.
The maid placed a basin of warm water and a towel on the bedside table.
I had been introduced to her last night.
Seneca, the chief steward, had explained that she would attend to all my needs during my stay at the Demon Lord’s castle.
A personal maid, of sorts.
After washing my face, I dried it with the towel and asked,
“What’s on the schedule for today?”
“There are no specific instructions. You’re free to roam the castle until the Demon Lord summons you.”
“Sounds good.”
I nodded in satisfaction and decided to change clothes before heading out.
As I retrieved a fresh set of clothes from the wardrobe, the maid, who had been standing by the door, quietly approached.
“Allow me to assist you.”
I gladly accepted her help.
After changing out of my sweat-soaked clothes from the night before, I donned the robes, practically a mage’s uniform.
A mage’s robes typically conveyed a significant amount of information.
The color, decorations, and even the number of buttons could indicate their school of magic.
My hair… is it still alright?
Mages, both male and female, generally kept their hair long.
As an extension of the body, hair served as an excellent medium for storing magical power.
I, too, had once sported long, flowing hair like a rocker, but the arduous journey, with its constant rough sleeping, had made maintaining long hair too difficult.
At some point, I had settled on a buzz cut.
“Hmm. Not bad.”
I examined myself in the mirror the maid held, turning this way and that.
It was my first time wearing demon clothing.
However, perhaps because some demons resembled humans, their clothing wasn’t much different from what humans wore.
After my final check, I picked up my staff from beside the bed and asked the maid,
“You said I could roam freely within the castle, but is it impossible to go outside?”
“Unfortunately, the Demon Lord has forbidden it, saying that the commoners might be frightened if a normal human like yourself were to wander freely through the marketplace.”
“I suppose that’s understandable.”
In truth, I wasn’t particularly eager to go outside at the moment.
There were plenty of places to explore within the Demon Lord’s castle.
This was, after all, the Demon Lord’s domain, completely uncharted territory for humans.
As a seeker of the unknown, my curiosity was piqued.
“Are there any particularly interesting places to visit within the castle?”
The maid, who had been standing respectfully with her hands clasped, hesitated for a moment before walking towards the window.
“The current Demon Lord’s castle is an ancient fortress, built approximately 800 years ago, designed and constructed by the second Demon Lord, Tiberius. With sheer cliffs at its back and a bountiful river flowing in front, its breathtaking scenery, seemingly too beautiful to be built with ancient technology, is renowned even among high-ranking demons.”
I followed her to the window.
Leaning out the arched stone window, I took in the vast structure of the Demon Lord’s castle.
Human literature typically depicted the Demon realm as a cursed land of withered trees, cracked earth, and ferocious beasts.
However, the market in the castle town below, visible in the distance, was bustling with activity, no less vibrant than any human city.
The only difference was the diverse forms of its inhabitants.
“I personally recommend the Hanging Gardens in the back courtyard, the training grounds where the Demon army soldiers train, and the Grand Library, where all the knowledge of the world is gathered. As a mage, I imagine you wouldn’t want to miss it.”
I shrugged at her words.
An ordinary mage would indeed be ecstatic at the mention of a library.
However, I was an anomaly, recognized even by the Head Mage of the Emerald Tower, the epicenter of magic.
“The library sounds interesting, but let’s go to the dining hall first. After a hearty meal, I’d like to take a stroll through the Hanging Gardens to aid digestion. After that, a visit to the training grounds to loosen up wouldn’t be bad either.”
The maid looked at me, dumbfounded.
“Aren’t you going to the library?”
“Uh, well…”
I avoided her gaze and chuckled awkwardly.
“To be honest, I’m not really fond of reading.”
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… wow