“It is nice to meet you, too. My name is Baal, and I’m the Demon King. So, you’re the new demon lord, the first ever human to ascend as a demon lord,” Baal said with a hint of intrigue in his voice. “Yes, my lord. Though I did not intend for it to happen, I have ascended as a demon lord,” Siegfried replied with a bow. “That doesn’t make you any less of a demon lord. You already possess the body of a demon as well as the demonic powers of a demon lord.” “Well, I guess I do...? However it may have happened, I believe this is a good thing for me,” Siegfried said firmly. “Hm? What do you mean by that?” Baal asked, raising a brow. “I strongly believe that there is no disadvantage to becoming stronger. Being strong is the best thing in this world.” “Oh? So what you’re saying is—you’re happy not because you became a demon lord but because you’re stronger now?” Baal asked with a grin. “Yes, my lord. What does it matter if I am a demon or an angel? I am happy as long as I can grow stronger,” Siegfried replied with another bow. “Ooooh!” Baal exclaimed in awe and looked very pleased by the response. Survival of the Fittest, Law of the Strong, and Absolute Rule by Power. These were the principles that governed the Demon Realm. For the Demon King, Baal, who ruled over the entire Demon Realm, Siegfried’s words were nothing short of music to his ears. “This young one is more of a demon than the demons born in the Demon Realm! Yes, that’s how it should be! It doesn’t matter whether you’re a demon or an angel!” “Such wise words, my lord! Who cares what you are as long as you can grow stronger? The only thing that matters is having the strength to force your will upon others!” “As long as one does not get drunk in their power and starts rampaging like a mindless beast, one’s background and upbringing is not important as long as they have the power to back themselves up!” “Ah! What a refreshing answer! It’s rare to see young ones like you in the Demon Realm these days! Young demons these days are too soft, do you catch my drift? Tsk, tsk, tsk! But you’re different from those soft bastards! I love your mindset!” “I am honored to receive such praises from a great and mighty being as my lord!” “Enlighten me, young one! How did you come up with such an admirable ideology?” “I have received teachings, my lord.” “Teachings? From who?” “My master has imparted his teachings upon me, my lord.” “Oh! I’m curious now! I’m really curious!” Siegfried seized the moment Baal grew curious and made a proposal. “May I suggest we continue this conversation elsewhere rather than stand around here?” “That’s a great idea! Kekeke!” “May I have the honor of serving my lord?” “No, not at all. Pandemonium is my house. It’s only right that I welcome you as my guest in my house! Come, let’s go!” The scenery shifted instantaneously. Siegfried was surprised when the scenery around him, which was the entrance to Tubal-Cain’s forge, suddenly turned into a luxurious lounge bar. “Why? Are you surprised?” Baal asked with a smirk. “Yes, my lord. I did not even notice warping here,” Siegfried replied, making the awe and reverence in his voice sound obvious. “Keke! I can’t call myself the Demon King if I can’t do something like that, can I? I bet I surprised you! Hohoho! I hope you’re not too shaken after experiencing it!” “Yes, my lord. I was indeed surprised but... It is not my first time experiencing it, so I am fine,” Siegfried replied with a bow. “Hm? What do you mean by that?” “My master is also capable of that.” Baal was surprised after hearing what Siegfried said. An individual had to be at least a Dragon Lord to be capable of doing what he did just now. “Who is your master that he could do what I did just now?” Baal asked. “My master is... I am not certain if my lord would be familiar with him, but he was a warrior active around four hundred and fifty years ago. His name is De–” “Don’t tell me... Is your master, by any chance... Elder Deus?” Siegfried was stunned after hearing Deus’ name come out from Baal’s mouth. He never imagined even in his wildest dreams that the Demon King, Baal, would mention Deus of all people. The fact that Deus had made his mark even in the Demon Realm was a shocking thing for Siegfried. ‘Is there even an end to Master’s connections?’ Siegfried wondered. But now that he thought about it, the fact that Deus was active in the Demon Realm was not that surprising, considering the fact that Metatron’s father, Vernas, was beaten to a pulp by Deus four hundred and fifty years ago. In fact, he was beaten so badly that he was bedridden until the day he died... “This is quite shocking to me... I didn’t expect you to be Elder Deus’ disciple... No wonder that mindset of yours is so admirable...” Baal muttered, seemingly still reeling in shock. “If I may inquire, my lord. How are you acquainted with my master?” Siegfried asked carefully. “It was around a century ago. Your master came to the Demon Realm to find me, the Demon King, just because he wanted to test out how powerful he was.” “Hahaha... Haha...” Siegfried laughed awkwardly while scratching the back of his head in response. “I didn’t think much of him at that time. Yes, I was aware that he was the one who stopped Vernas from descending into your world, but that’s something that happened outside the Demon Realm, right? I dismissed it, thinking your master managed to beat Vernas using some tricks.” “Anyone would have thought of it that way, my lord.” “But that was very foolish of me. Your master had already ascended into the realm of transcendence. Not only that, he attained the power of invincibility, too. I was completely oblivious to how stronger he was, and the result of that was...” “I am guessing that my lord lost?” Siegfried said with a hint of certainty. “I did. No, saying that I lost doesn’t even do it justice. I was no match against him. Can you imagine that? I, the Demon King, lost to a human?” “Fate can be quite funny at times,” Baal said while gazing at Siegfried. Then, he continued, “I knew you weren’t an ordinary human when I heard a human became a demon lord, but I never imagined you would be Elder Deus’ disciple.” Then, a notification popped up in front of Siegfried’s eyes. [Alert: Congratulations!] [Alert: Demon King Baal’s affinity toward you has risen from Extremely Curious to I Want To Get To Know You More!] [Alert: Continue talking to Baal to take your relationship to the next level!] Siegfried continued chatting with Baal just as the system notification told him to. “If I may, my lord. I believe fate has brought us together, so may I pour my lord a drink?” “I have a very good bottle of liquor with me, and I hope it pleases my lord—” Baal gasped after seeing the bottle, the Tears of Gold, that Siegfried had taken out of his Inventory. “Y-You! How did you get your hands on that?!” Baal cried out. “Huh? Does my lord know this?” Siegfried asked, tilting his head in confusion. “How could I not?! I have tasted that seven hundred years ago, yet my tongue still remembers its taste!” “Ah, I am glad my lord favors this bottle. I wanted to serve this to my lord, may I?” “Hurry up and pour me a glass! You’re gonna make me start begging at this rate!” “Please, have a drink, my lord.” Siegfried poured Baal a glass with both hands, making sure that the Demon King felt like he was being served like the very important demon he was. “T-This precious thing... A-Are you sure I can drink this...?” Baal stammered while gazing into his glass. “A mere bottle of liquor is nothing compared to the honor of serving the great and mighty Demon King,” Siegfried replied with a bow. “Ha! You are truly one of a kind!” “I am honored, my lord.” “By the way, why did you go to Tubal-Cain’s forge? Did you go to commission your relic?” “Yes, my lord. I went to commission my relic and a totem, too.” “Ah, that is...” Siegfried proceeded to explain how he had requested Tubal-Cain to turn Chae Hyung-Seok into a totem. Baal was about to drink the Tears of Gold, but he stopped upon hearing Siegfried's words. Then, he stared intensely at Siegfried for a while before saying, “You pass the test!” “Huh? What test...?” Siegfried tilted his head in confusion. “I’m talking about your personality.” “With such a cruel personality, you’re more than qualified to be a demon lord. Your idea is so cruel that I’m embarrassed I haven’t thought of that as the Demon King. Ah, to think that such a cruel method exists... I can finally see why you ascended as a demon lord...” Siegfried’s cruelty was on a whole different level that even the Demon King, Baal, was gazing at him with awe and reverence dripping from his eyes. *** Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on novel{f}ire.net While Siegfried was building relations with the Demon King, Baal... Chae Hyung-Seok logged back into the game upon rage-quitting last time. “I wonder what’s happening...” He was curious how things had evolved since he logged out, so he decided to take a look for himself. After all, he had nothing better to do than play the game. [Pandemonium: Tubal-Cain’s Forge] A notification informing him of his current location popped up in front of Chae Hyung-Seok’s eyes. He looked around after seeing that he was in some strange, unfamiliar place. “W-What the fuck is this?!” Chae Hyung-Seok screamed. It was all because he found himself tightly strapped to a surgery table. He struggled to free himself, but it was to no avail. The ropes binding his hands and feet were so tight that he couldn’t move even a millimeter. “Oh? So you’re awake.” A huge demon holding a drill appeared beside the surgery table. “W-Who the hell are you?! What are you doing to me?!” Chae Hyung-Seok screamed. “My name is Tubal-Cain, and I am the greatest blacksmith in all of the Demon Realm.” “W-What are you going to do to me?! Release me! Release me at once!” “I’m afraid I can’t do that. You see, I have been commissioned, so I must finish my job.” “Yes, from the newly ascended demon lord, Siegfried van Proa. I believe both of you are acquainted? He said you’re close with each other.” “Close?! Who the fuck is close with that bastaaard?!” Chae Hyung-Seok raged. As obvious as it may sound, there was no way anyone would describe Siegfried and Chae Hyung-Seok’s relationship as close. “It’s no use even if you scream. I’ve already told you that Siegfried van Proa has commissioned me, so I won’t be letting you go.” “What commission?! What the fuck are you going to do to me?!” “I will be modifying you to become a living totem,” Tubal-Cain replied with a malevolent grin. “A l-living t-totem...?!” “Yes, that’s correct. You are no longer the demon, Hyungseokius, but will soon be reborn as a living totem. Ah, this is the first time I’m doing something , so you might lose a limb or two. But you don’t have to worry too much, as I’ll make sure that you won't die from this procedure.” “It will be extremely painful, so I suggest you go back to sleep. As I have introduced myself earlier, I am a blacksmith, so I can’t put you under any anesthesia.” Right after Tubal-Cain said those words, he switched on the drill in his hand. The drill vibrated intensely, and the noises sounded eerie in Chae Hyung-Seok's ears. “Not going to sleep? Then you better clench your teeth and brace yourself! I will commence surgery now! Hoho!” Chae Hyung-Seok screamed and thrashed wildly as the drill got closer to him. Badump! Badump! Badump! His heart thumped wildly like a war drum rallying an entire army into war. Even though this was just a game, the fact that he was currently strapped to a surgery table and was about to be dismembered by a psychopath didn't change. “D-Don’t do it! Stop! Fuck! Please! Stop plea—!” “I’ll start with your head. Kekeke!” “P-Please! Stop! Sto—AAAAAACK!” Thus, Chae Hyung-Seok’s reconfiguration into a mobile buff totem started. “Oops! That’s not where the hole should be. My bad, let me drill another one.” The only sounds reverberating in the forge surrounded by darkness were Tubal-Cain’s muttering, the sound of the drill, and Chae Hyung-Seok’s agonized screams.