NOVEL WEB Ch. 49
Geshkafor.
He was the designated successor to Copetal, one of the former Four Generals of the Demon King’s Army. With his massive frame, he was expected to lead from the front lines and become the face of morale for the new army.
“Copetal had a sense of decorum, at least. You, on the other hand, are rather rude,” Beatrice said, her tone admonishing.
Geshkafor laughed.
“Once I claim the position that’s promised to me, won’t I be your equal anyway? Besides…”
He tilted his head arrogantly.
“I might just reach even higher than that.”
“!”
Beatrice’s expression twisted for a brief moment—but then melted away like snow under the sun.
“Well, fine. Copetal was the same. Some things need to be learned firsthand.”
The demons from Copetal’s domain were known to value actions far more than words or intellect.
“Go and see for yourself. I’ll send you a guide.”
Fwoosh.
Beatrice summoned a flame in her hand.
In an instant, the flame opened its eyes and began bouncing in her palm.
“Flame,” she said softly, naming the familiar.
“Take this brute to Barungenia.”
Pffft!
The flame sputtered as if protesting.
Pfff-pffft!
“I know. He’s not exactly the ideal companion.”
Beatrice shot Geshkafor a sideways glance.
“But it can’t be helped. I need to check on another candidate for the Four Generals. That one was already on the move toward us, so our paths got crossed. I don’t have time to spare.”
Fwooo…!
The familiar let out a nervous gust of flame but obediently raised its fiery brows in assent.
“Good. I’m counting on you.”
Beatrice lowered her hand.
Flame dropped from her palm and landed squarely atop Geshkafor’s head.
Sizzle.
“GRAAGH!”
He stumbled back in surprise.
Thud!
Flame was smacked off his head and sent rolling to the ground.
“Damn it, my head…!”
Beatrice chuckled at the sight.
“That’s your guide. Don’t mistreat it. You might end up lost.”
Fwoosh!
With that, she beat her wings and shot into the sky.
“See you later, then.”
Boom!
She vanished with an explosion of light high above.
The mercenary captain who had been watching stood there dumbfounded. His eyes slowly turned to the demon standing nearby.
“That damn wench…!”
Geshkafor brushed off the remaining embers on his body and clenched his fists.
“I’ll rise above you, and when I do—I’ll teach you exactly who’s greater!”
He turned his head and shouted, “Flame! Lead the way!”
Fwoosh!
The familiar groaned in disgust but began sliding across the ground, leaving a trail of fire in its wake.
“Hm?”
As he began to follow, Geshkafor glanced toward the captain. The man trembled like a leaf, paralyzed by fear.
Hssss…
Geshkafor leaned in close, his face filling the man’s vision.
“Ah… ahh…”
The captain’s voice cracked, barely audible.
Geshkafor grinned.
“Heh heh heh.”
He grabbed the man’s shoulder tightly with one massive hand.
“AHHHHHH!”
“I’m not going to kill you.”
His smile was one of twisted amusement.
“So go on. Spread the word.”
A glint of madness shone in his eyes.
“That I’ll be the next Demon King.”
♧
Rumble…
The ground trembled as Yuru stood bracing herself amid the shockwaves.
In her hand was the Holy Sword, Excalbren.
No, it wasn’t held. It was restrained.
Grit…!
She clenched her teeth.
There was only one known method to subdue a berserk magical weapon—sever the force that drove its rampage.
She was trying to cut off the Holy Sword’s flow of divine power.
《Unyielding will.》
Even as her mana invaded the sword’s frame, Excalbren showed no signs of stopping.
《That’s what the Hero taught me.》
Even though Yuru had reached the realm of Origin, she had only just begun to step into legend. Overriding a force from a different power system using mana intervention alone—was still far beyond her current capacity.
“…Stop it.”
She finally spoke.
“Just realize what a worthless thing you are.”
《Can you be sure?》
The sword asked.
《Are you truly certain Clay doesn’t need me?》
“What kind of nonsense—”
《If the Hero still lives, he would need me.》
Yuru flinched. In that instant, Excalbren slid from her grasp and spun backward.
《If he’s dead, there’s no need to stop me.》
If there was no more life force to drain from its master, then there’d be no reason to intervene.
The sword spoke calmly.
《Can you destroy me and still face Clay without losing his trust?》
Yuru finally turned her gaze.
And she saw him.
A man in black clothing, standing nearby.
“!”
Yuru spun around and reflexively snapped her fingers.
BOOOOM!
Her mana surged forward, ripping through the air and carving a massive spell formation.
An explosion followed immediately, and the man’s figure vanished in the smoke.
Whoosh!
No—he came bursting through the smoke, charging straight toward her.
Tak! Ttak!
More blasts followed with her next gestures, but the man evaded each one with experienced precision.
‘That aura—!’
Sensing the energy more clearly now, Yuru recognized him and froze mid-attack.
The man also came to a stop, calmly locking eyes with her.
“You.”
Yuru scowled.
“You’re the one who was in that castle.”
Barungenia.
She had already confirmed his presence near the hidden Demon King’s Castle.
“That’s right.”
Clearly a high-ranking demon, the man adjusted his posture and bowed his head.
“It’s an honor to finally meet you, Lady Yuru.”
“…What?”
His sudden politeness took her by surprise.
“I know this is abrupt, but is that the Holy Sword Excalbren behind you?”
Yuru turned around, startled.
There it was—Excalbren—its blade aimed directly at her, motionless just a few steps away.
《You weren’t completely careless, I see.》
That was all it took.
Of course it was. She had already set up a trap spell while attacking the man. If Excalbren had taken even a step closer, a binding spell would’ve activated—purple chains ready to bind its blade.
“Your reflexes are almost divine,” the man said, clapping softly, “I must’ve surprised you, yet you prepared your defenses instantly.”
“Cut the crap.”
Yuru’s voice was sharp as she kept her eyes on both Excalbren and the man.
“Who are you?”
“I am Cardin, direct aide to our Demon King—Clay.”
Her expression froze.
“C…Clay?”
“Yes,” Cardin replied quietly.
“He is now our Demon King.”
He studied her reaction as he spoke.
But Yuru merely stiffened for a moment—nothing more.
“…I see.”
As if she had expected it all along.
“I don’t care.”
Speaking almost to herself, Yuru clenched her fist.
“Why did my brother send you? Was it to attack me?”
“No.”
Cardin gave an entirely unexpected response.
“He sent me to deliver a letter.”
“…What?”
Yuru’s eyes widened as she snapped her gaze toward Cardin.
CLINK!
At that moment, Excalbren moved—triggering the trap spell.
Yuru quickly turned her eyes again—but the chains didn’t bind the Holy Sword.
Of course not. Excalbren had ignored her and shot straight toward Cardin.
CHAK!
It spun through the air, slicing past the purple chains, and embedded its blade into the ground before him.
《Clay became the Demon King?》
“…”
《Answer.》
“Yes.”
《How dreadful.》
The sword trembled with confusion, its once-righteous energy now clouded.
《Unacceptable. Yet…》
Its voice grew quieter.
《I understand.》
It couldn’t be ignorant of what Clay had endured. The Holy Alliance had never stopped persecuting him.
《Now that I have no master, I am nothing.》
Fwip!
Excalbren launched into the air and disappeared into the distance.
“Is it all right to let it go?”
Cardin asked.
Yuru wore a hollow expression but shook her head.
“I don’t care. As long as it doesn’t claim my brother as its master again.”
“I see.”
Cardin sighed and reached into his coat.
He pulled out a letter and offered it to Yuru, who was still watching him warily.
“This is from His Majesty, the Demon King.”
“Really?”
“He said you’d know once you read it.”
Yuru deactivated her trap spell and walked toward him slowly.
“….”
Carefully, she took the letter from his hand.
“!”
There was a time—beneath the blue night sky—when the two of them had sworn an oath.
The first sentence in the letter.
It was a phrase only the two of them knew—a vow to protect each other.
Yuru gripped the letter tightly, trembling.
“I’m sorry… brother.”
She knew just how deeply Clay must have felt betrayed by her.
Her breath caught in her throat. Her vision swam. It wouldn’t have been surprising if she collapsed right then and there—but she remained standing.
She looked at Cardin.
‘This is a trial.’
There was no other way this could’ve gone.
It was fate. And in that fate, all she could do was become stronger.
She had surpassed her limits—and now all she could do was help Clay, who was undergoing the same trial.
In ways she hadn’t before.
Without retreating anymore.
And so—she read it.
Every word, every line of the letter, from beginning to end.
And she arrived at Clay’s message.
“I want you to destroy everything that becomes my enemy.”
Reading that final line, Yuru swallowed dryly.
“He… accepted me.”
Her eyes glimmered in the shadows as she looked at Cardin.
“My brother… he accepted me as something other than an enemy.”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
“He asked me to destroy his enemies. Asked for my help.”
“…”
“That means he forgave me—he forgave me.”
“Lady Yuru.”
Cardin spoke calmly, watching her mutter while biting her fingertip.
“To be precise, you’ve been given the chance to earn forgiveness.”
“A test?”
“Yes.”
Cardin relayed what Clay hadn’t written down.
“His Majesty said… he doesn’t wish to see you again.”
“Ah…”
“But if you truly want to earn his forgiveness…”
Cardin’s voice lowered.
“Prove your worth.”
That “worth” was really just utility. But Cardin didn’t elaborate further.
There was no need to crush the fragile hope in her barely-recovered expression.
“…Prove.”
Yuru clutched the letter tightly.
“Tell him this.”
Her voice was clear, eyes resolute.
“Tell him—I’ll strangle every last one of his enemies for him.”
(End of Chapter)