The Demon King Who Draws

Chapter 87

“Do you know about Eckelart?”

“…I’ve found it.”

“You… you found it?”

“Yes.”

A stain left deep in the meeting minutes.

Someone had brought up the topic of Eckelart and gradually developed it, leading to the current situation in the frozen lands.

Among the four captains, there was one named Gawen. He was the first to mention the seal of Eckelart. His statements, which had consistently surfaced since the planning of the seal, were remarkably similar to the actions taken by the witch hunters in the frozen lands.

‘Gawen… The probability is high that it’s him.’

He was currently the most likely suspect.

Since the recorder hadn’t returned yet, the traces left in the meeting minutes were erased and everything was returned to its original place.

*Sssss-*

The barracks he returned to were still dark.

“You’ve returned.”

“Did you gain anything?”

“I had some time, so I gathered information on the other captains as well…”

Bill, who had arrived earlier and was waiting.

“It seems you’ve discovered something.”

“Tell me only about Gawen.”

“As expected… There were some discrepancies with the other captains.”

“Were there?”

“Yes. Well… Gawen joined the witch hunters voluntarily six years ago. He’s a middle-aged man in his forties and is known to be the most powerful among the captains…”

“And the reason he joined?”

“He lost his wife to a witch. This information hasn’t been confirmed.”

“Hmm…”

“He is trusted by Field Commander Behman and serves as a de facto strategic advisor. He’s the only captain who has participated in every recent tactical meeting.”

There was also some other minor information, but none of it was particularly valuable.

“Is that all?”

“There’s one more thing. When the moon dips a little lower, there will soon be a strategic meeting.”

“And the attendees?”

“All the captains stationed at the forward base are expected to attend, along with the recorder, as before.”

Nice timing.

For now, there was no more information to gather, so all that remained was to wait for Gawen to leave. With this, he could immediately search Gawen’s quarters without wasting time.

In the empty quarters, he waited for the moon to dip a little lower. After confirming the recorder’s movement, he shifted his gaze to follow.

On a hill overlooking the forward base, was the field commander’s quarters located. As the recorder and some sturdy men entered the place, he headed towards Gawen’s quarters.

‘There are guards.’

*Sssss…*

Bill took the lead and knocked out the guards.

*Thud…*

It seemed he had used a diluted version of the sleeping potion he had used before.

“The meeting is likely to run long, but we don’t have much time.”

“Search quickly for anything that could be information, and leave.”

If they found nothing, or if the information was insufficient, they might resort to more extreme measures.

Like kidnapping and interrogating Captain Gawen.

“…He keeps things tidy.”

“He probably didn’t have time to make a mess. The forward base is temporary, and he likely didn’t have much baggage.”

There might be no information here at all. Considering that possibility, as soon as they entered Gawen’s quarters, he had a feeling.

‘…This is strange.’

For a temporary base, the place felt too… clean. Bill seemed to feel the same, as he kept inspecting the floor before speaking.

“There are no footprints at all. They’ve been deliberately erased. We know he was just here… He’s not only cautious…”

They soon reached the same conclusion.

“There must be something hidden.”

“I think so too.”

“Let’s search thoroughly.”

They searched for over 10 minutes, prying open even locked drawers.

*Thump-thump!*

“…Here.”

“Did you find something?”

“Under this carpet, it’s hollow.”

“It could be a trap. Let me check.”

*Flutter…*

*Clack…*

*Creaaak…*

‘This smell… This place hasn’t been opened for long.’

The air wasn’t what you’d expect from a sealed space. It was clear that someone had been regularly opening this place to check its contents.

“A bag?”

“Let me check.”

He opened the bag to see what was inside.

“…A sealed letter.”

A sealed letter, sealed with wax.

It was clear that even the owner hadn’t opened it yet.

‘There’s no need to hesitate.’

Considering they were already planning to kidnap Gawen, there was no reason to be cautious now.

*Snap-*

He tore open the seal of the letter, and the moment it opened wide—

*Whiiiii—*

The characters seemed to swirl around, trying to pour into his eyes.

‘Mental attack! It’s a trap!’

He had to resist somehow.

– Relax and surrender yourself….

A sweet voice tickled his ears.

There was no presence to be felt anywhere, so it had to be a trap hidden within the letter itself.

‘I must resist…’

“Lord Faust?”

*Whiiii…*

The surroundings seemed to move in slow motion.

It felt as if he would stagger like a drunk and lose his mind at any moment.

At that instant, a chilling sensation surged from within him, as if it would explode through his heated mind.

*Goooooo…*

‘This is… Ah!’

The coldness engraved in Faust’s blood.

The power to maintain composure in any situation.

*Shhhrrr…*

The sound of flesh tearing accompanied the neutralization of the trap triggered by the letter.

“…It was a trap.”

“A trap, you say?”

“If someone else had opened this letter, who knows what might have happened. How curious… For a letter to possess such power.”

“It seems the sender of the letter is no ordinary person.”

“Indeed, someone who dares to meddle with the witch’s land on their own. I’m looking forward to the contents.”

Before he could examine the contents, Ipos grabbed his arm.

“Um… Faust…”

“What is it?”

“The owner is coming.”

“…What?”

“I can feel it.”

If Ipos said so, it must be true.

She shared the sharp senses of the frozen souls.

Bill nodded and quickly erased any trace of their presence.

*Flaaash—*

With the discovery of the letter, they withdrew to the nearby wilderness.

“This should be safe.”

“I erased all traces, so we should be fine for a while.”

Now, with a calmer mind, he could finally look at the contents of the letter.

*Sssss…*

– The master is displeased with the delay in the plan.

In fact, the master has already forgotten that he assigned such a task to Butner.

If it takes this long just to subdue a mere peripheral sorcerer…

‘Master? Butner? Subdue?’

Clues poured out in droves.

‘A directive from a subordinate of someone called the Master. Is it a larger organization than I thought?’

And the newly revealed name, Butner.

‘Butner is… Gawen. His real name was Butner.’

In other words, the one called the Master had assigned Butner a mission long ago, and that mission seemed to involve the subjugation of Eckelart.

The remaining content of the sealed letter contained nothing more than scoldings directed at Butner. It spoke of how even if he completed his mission this late, there would be no reward, and how the master no longer loved him.

It was a bit puzzling to see the vague word “love” suddenly appear…

‘So, what they were aiming for was the subjugation of Eckelart?’

Everything became clear now.

Only women could be part of the Witch’s Coven.

For a man like Butner to get involved in the sealing of Eckelart, his options were either to attack alone and kill all the witches, or to join the witch hunters and pressure the witches.

There were probably very few people on the continent capable of the former, and the latter was a time-consuming endeavor.

‘Well, he must have had no other choice.’

Butner chose the latter and dedicated years to this task, now left only to reap the fruits of his labor.

‘Where could Butner be affiliated…?’

They weren’t ordinary people.

They left a fairly strong trap in the sealed letter and casually ordered something that would take years to accomplish.

…I needed to examine the letter again.

‘The seal pressing down on the wax was ordinary… there should be something that can prove their identity…’

*Rustle…*

He unfolded the letter and inspected it from various angles but still couldn’t figure it out.

“Hmm…”

He held the letter up to the moonlight.

*Ssssss…*

And then, there was a reaction.

As the moonlight passed through the letter, a faint pattern began to be etched onto it.

“I’ve found it.”

‘But this pattern… I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere before…’

Suddenly, his heart began to pound.

He tried to deny it, but deep down, he was already certain of what the pattern meant.

“Dammit, we need to get out of here, right now…”

*Whoooosh-!*

Something flew through the air with a sharp sound.

A simple spear.

But Bill couldn’t block it.

*Clang-!*

Ipos struck the spear aside.

*Scrape…*

The impact pushed them back several steps.

“That one… is strong…”

The man who had thrown the spear began to walk towards them.

“You little thieves are quite careless.”

“Grr…”

“Why did you steal someone else’s love letter?”

He was strong.

*Whissshhh…*

He was stronger than anyone else here. That much was instinctively clear.

‘The only saving grace is… that I’m wearing a mask…’

If his identity was revealed, he might be hunted down forever. The sentence engraved on the letter was proof that such a fear was not baseless.

“Why don’t you take off that mask?”

“It seems there’s been a misunderstanding, so we’ll be leaving now.”

“A misunderstanding…? You think this is just a misunderstanding?”

Butner began to gather his energy.

“Because of that misunderstanding, you will die today.”

*Sssrrriiing…*

Butner drew his sword and charged.

*Boom-!*

“Bear uncle! Help!”

As Ipos let out a scream that wasn’t quite a scream, the snow on the field surged like an explosion.

*Whooosh…*

A majestic force.

“This power… not bad.”

[Ipos uses *White Bear: Target Mauling*.]

[She strikes with her paw, dealing 150% of her physical attack damage. The cooldown resets until it hits, and upon hitting, the target enters a hunting state.]

*Whooosh-!*

Ipos’ hand aimed for Butner’s neck.

*Clang-!*

Her body, infused with the power of the white bear, was harder than steel. Even when her slender hand clashed with the sword, it made the sound of steel colliding.

*Clang-!*

*Clang-!*

Ipos seemed almost leisurely, even in a state where she might not know she was a demon. She showed no curiosity about the identity of an opponent weaker than herself.

‘Should I intervene? Should I… kill Butner?’

His mind was in turmoil.

It was all because of the pattern he had seen in the letter.

“Your master seems to have a lot on their mind.”

*Sssszzzt…*

Butner’s sword gleamed.

[Butner uses *Crescent Nail*.]

[Deals 150% of attack power as powerful lunar damage in a fan-shaped area.]

*Boom-!*

Ipos must have judged she couldn’t block it, as she summoned a different ability in response.

[Ipos uses *White Bear: Crevasse Punch*.]

[She strikes the ground, creating a crevasse. If on snowfield terrain, additional crevasses are created, and they do not form in the direction of allies.]

*Boom-!*

*Rumble-rumble-rumble!*

“What, what the hell!”

“An earthquake!”

The noise from the forward base echoed in the distance.

Butner’s attack was also swallowed by the crevasse Ipos had created.

“Ipos!”

*Whoosh-!*

He grabbed Ipos by the waist and started to run.

In the current situation, avoiding a confrontation with Butner was the top priority.

“Are you trying to run away!”

*Boom-!*

Butner quickly tried to catch up.

With that much power, he might be able to match Scala.

‘Damn… is it impossible to escape?’

If things continued like this, a fight would be inevitable.

At that moment.

– Duck.

‘…What?’

At the familiar voice, he grabbed Bill’s wrist and rolled forward as if they were falling.

*Shhhwww-!*

Though he couldn’t see clearly, he could sense a ring-shaped weapon slamming into the ground between them and Butner.

Immediately, an explosion erupted.

*Boom-!*

‘We need to hide!’

But for some reason, perhaps due to magical interference, it was difficult to move.

As he limped away, someone grabbed and dragged them along.

“Where the hell are they hiding! Damn it…”

Butner stormed around, tearing through the area, but fortunately, he didn’t find them. Soon, he left.

“Come this way, I have something to discuss.”

“Ouch…”

It was the strong man who had come to find him with Leon earlier. On a rock on the hill where the snowflakes were starting to settle, Leon was sitting, looking up at the moon.

“Welcome.”

“Leon, why didn’t you tell me?”

“……”

– It’s not my place to interfere in matters that aren’t mine! If you get involved in this…

Those were the words Leon had spoken.

Now… it was starting to make sense.

He handed the letter to Leon.

The words etched by the moonlight.

“A serpent coiled around an apple… the Mark of Lust.”

“…Yes.”

“The one behind this is…”

In the past, the demon race had suffered near extinction at the hands of the Solar King Solomon. However, the demon leadership had managed to escape and were now orchestrating many plots from behind the scenes, leading a rebellion against the human Empire of Aslan.

Each of them possessed strength that was on par with the world’s most powerful beings, and their mysterious activities were emerging all over the continent.

Yes… These were the ones he had to find if he was to live as a demon in this Solaria.

“The Seven Deadly Sins?”

The Seven Deadly Sins.

I had unwittingly gotten involved in the affairs of one of the Seven Demon Kings.