Chapter 77: Velator the Hero (6)

Kill the hero.

The method is simple but the process leading up to it is riddled with countless obstacles.

The opponent is the hero.

Not the Demon King, not the Demon King’s Legion, not the Demon Clan, but the hero who stands in opposition to them.

Suppose I just charge at the hero and kill him as usual.

If I did that, everything I’ve done so far—my very goal of saving humanity from the clutches of the Demon Clan—would be rendered meaningless.

Those who have followed me, having lost my justification and purpose, would all disappear as well.

‘Maybe that’s why they put the hero at the forefront, keeping this very thing in mind.’

Salmora is a strategist who sees not just one move ahead, but two, three, even ten steps.

There’s a high probability that Salmora brought the hero forth, taking all these possible outcomes into account.

No matter what, I have no intention of dancing to his tricks.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I’ll just sit by and do nothing.

Brushing aside my thoughts, I walk forward.

At that moment.

“Rumble—”

Around me, an uncountable number of Demon Clan members are forming an encirclement.

“Boom!”

A massive shadow spreads across the ground.

Suspended in the air above is one of the incomplete Demon King’s Castles I had seen before.

There isn’t just one unfinished Demon King’s Castle.

All around the world, in every key outpost and city, there exists an incomplete Demon King’s Castle.

This place is one of the cities guarded by such a castle: Fukuoka, Japan.

Of course, the place has already been taken over by the Demon Clan, with an overwhelming number of their kind and the Demon King’s Legion stationed here.

Right now, I stand here alone.

To sweep away the Demon King’s Legion?

No.

I shrug off the loose coat I had been wearing until just moments ago.

What is revealed then is a dark blue armor, something I have never shown before.

Armor shaped like a skull and a sword engraved with a twisted human face.

Relique

[Dolor]

Not the armor of bone and Sword of Pain used by the first Commander of the Undying Legion, renowned for his formidable cold, but the version wielded in a later, even more powerful era.

Having regained over 50% of my prime Magical Power, I am able to manifest this martial form.

And that blatant Magical Power—

“T-This kind of Magical Power!”

It was enough to overwhelm the entire Demon King’s Legion stationed in Fukuoka.

As I’ve said time and again, the Demon Clan live in a world ruled by the law of the jungle, where only the strong survive and the weak submit to the strong.

Not just “strong,” but overwhelming power—enough to dominate everyone nearby—demands submission.

“Kneel.”

So, I imposed my will upon them.

In that instant.

“Thud!”

Without even daring to think of resistance, they began to kneel.

“A-Are you… from above…?”

The representative who stepped forth was a Death Knight.

Not just any Death Knight, but a high-ranking one who had undergone many years of training.

He believed I had been dispatched from the higher echelons.

“I am one who walks a different path from the master you serve.”

I had no reason to deceive them by pretending we were allies.

“A different path?”

“What does that mean?”

The sudden words caused the Death Knight and the others to stir in confusion.

“Salmora—he’s a coward.” And then I uttered something that should never be spoken aloud.

“……”

“…….”

The Demon Clan, so shocked they could hardly believe it.

Some even—

“How dare you!”

“To insult the Legion Commander!”

Despite my overwhelming aura, a few made to defy me.

But.

“Boom!”

As I stamped my foot once,

“Crash!”

A wave of even greater might swept through the hall.

Driven by instinct, they recoiled or dropped to their knees once again.

Subduing the Demon Clan is child’s play.

Right now, I simply need to display even greater force than the one controlling their bodies and minds—Salmora.

“Do not interrupt. Listen.”

Maintaining the oppressive atmosphere, I continued, “You all know, don’t you? That the hero has appeared.”

The emergence of the hero.

Among the Demon Clan, that’s practically common knowledge.

“Yet Salmora, even with the hero’s appearance, hasn’t shown any decisive action.”

I paused here to gauge their reaction.

If my prediction was correct…

‘That must mean the Legion Commander has some other plan…’

As I thought!

Salmora is thorough.

Which means he doesn’t reveal his plans to just anyone.

The fewer people who know a secret, the better.

Therefore, only his closest subordinates or Legion Commanders of the same rank might know that Salmora is using the hero for a Demon Clan advantage.

I intend to use that now.

“‘Another plan,’ you say. When did we ever just sit back and watch the hero for the sake of a plan?”

The Demon Clan are aggressive by nature.

Their race is driven by an instinct for brute force and destruction.

Telling them to wait, to endure for the sake of a plan, is unbearable.

Especially—

‘Those like the Death Knight are even more so.’

Demon Clan like the Death Knight, who worship martial strength, are fundamentally at odds with Salmora.

I specifically chose Fukuoka because this is where the Death Knights wield the greatest influence.

“I’ve long felt great dissatisfaction with Salmora and the Legion Commanders currently ruling the Demon King’s Legion.”

Thoroughness means many secrets, and secrets are rarely shared with subordinates.

That alone is enough to foster small cracks and feelings of resentment.

“We are the Demon Clan. A race that worships strength. The hero has appeared and is slaughtering our kin. Yet we’re told to stand by and watch? For what reason? The world is already under our rule—how long must we simply wait?”

Indeed.

The Demon Clan now rule about 70% of the world.

It would be one thing if they were rebuilding the Demon King’s Legion from the ground up as before, but now there’s no need for that.

“I am gathering troops. To select brave warriors to join me in ending the hero. This is not just my private matter, but for the honor of the Demon King’s Legion and His Majesty the Demon King himself!”

A particular weakness of the Demon Clan is the Demon King.

They are born to serve him; to work for and die in the Demon King’s name is their greatest glory.

“Do you intend to let a mere hero rampage in a world we already rule? Will you follow me?”

The bait is cast.

Whether they bite or not will determine the details of the plan and its execution.

Silence.

Though I can’t see their faces, I know they are considering it carefully.

“…For the honor of His Majesty the Demon King.”

But soon, I can tell from their murmured reply what choice they have made.

An unexpected result?

No.

It was well within my expectations.

Because it’s me.

As a former Commander of the Immortal Legion who led a pillar of the Demon King’s Legion, I’ve watched and studied them for a long time.

However—

“I have one question.”

Just as I thought I’d won them over, they prove more cautious than expected.

“Speak.”

“Do you—or rather, do you truly possess the power to face the hero?”

Even for the Demon Clan, who do not fear death, none wish for a pointless death.

If they are to act, they want to truly accomplish the grand objective of killing the hero. 

(Those below the Legion Commander level don’t know about the shackles of light and darkness.)

And for that, the most important thing is my level of strength.

Of course, the aura I just displayed proved that I’m much stronger than them, strong enough to lead the Demon King’s Legion but that alone isn’t enough.

If they are to defy their current master, Plague Legion Commander Salmora, they want a reason—proof of power.

“You want justification for betraying Salmora, is that it?”

Among the Demon Clan, betrayal is common.

From a human perspective, it’s an act against righteousness and morality, but not for them.

Following strength isn’t betrayal—it’s only natural.

The reason to betray Salmora is, simply, power.

“If that’s what you want, gladly.”

Until now, I only released enough power to overwhelm them.

But now, I will give my all—just as they desire.

Only then will they cast aside Salmora’s yoke and follow me without suspicion.

“Kwaaaaaa!”

A storm rages.

It’s not a natural disaster.

It’s a storm of Magical Power, created by my unleashing it upon the hall.

“Kuh!”

To merely unleash my presence and cause a calamity—this is a level only the highest Legion Commanders of the Demon King’s Legion can achieve.

“T-This kind of power?!”

“Truly incredible!”

The Death Knight and Demon Clan, facing this overwhelming strength—this calamity—are left in shock.

That alone is enough to prove myself to them, as they wished but I am not satisfied yet.

To truly earn their loyalty, to strip away Salmora’s shadow, I must do one more thing.

That is—

“Crash!”

Poison Energy.

While I cannot freely manifest the Aura that humans use, Poison Energy is another matter.

As the energies mingled, they formed an even more powerful force—a truly absolute aura that filled the hall.

“Thud!”

The Death Knight knelt.

It was not from being forced by my presence.

It was voluntary—the instinct of the Demon Clan, who follow the law of the jungle.

“Your command!”

At the Death Knight’s cry—

“Your command!”

“Your command!”

The other Demon Clan members, signifying their obedience, echoed the shout until the hall resounded.

“……”

Having so easily claimed a part of the Demon King’s Legion—now my army—I gaze at them for a moment.

‘This is not the end.’

It’s a considerable force.

But it’s not enough.

To justify an attack on the hero, I must gather even more troops but there’s no need to search far for them.

I will absorb portions of the Demon King’s Legion scattered around the world into my own forces.

I’ll take the army Salmora built, make them mine, and use them to eliminate the hero who’s become a thorn in my side.

This is my plan.

A strategy exploiting the gap that Salmora, secretive as he is, inevitably left behind.

Right now, I’m not Kim Si-won the human, but a member of the Demon King’s Legion, so I need not worry about public opinion.

Even the forces I command are not my own creations, but ones borrowed from Salmora, so no matter the losses, it doesn’t matter—truly the perfect plan.

Of course, to finish this plan for certain, I can’t be satisfied with just this force.

“Let’s go. Let us gather those who will protect His Majesty the Demon King’s honor.”

It all begins now.

From here on, I will unite the Demon Clan dissatisfied with Salmora and the current order of the Demon King’s Legion—founding a new Demon King’s Legion and launching the grand plan to set Hero Velator against us in mutual destruction.