"Seria, what do you think?" Caron asked. "...I'd rather not speak about another family's business," Seria replied coolly. "I'm asking as a professional," Caron said. "Did your god give you any sort of revelation?" "It's certainly strange," Seria admitted. "Absorbing a Demon King's power shouldn't be possible for an ordinary human." Summarized, the secret Libre had revealed about the Ducal Family of Leston went something . "Rael Leston's homeland lies within the Demon Realm—beyond the veil itself. He crossed the North Sea by forging a pact with the Blue Dragons of the North." Caron wondered if that meant Rael had demon blood. It was hard to say because Libre's words were vague, and he had a habit of dancing around the point. "Do you think only demons live in the Demon Realm?" Libre had said. "Not at all. Demons are merely fragments of the old world. The real truth waits beyond the veil." According to Libre, his true goal lay beyond the veil. More precisely, he sought the hidden truth of the world that lay concealed there. Caron didn't believe everything the dark mage said, but some of it made a dangerous kind of sense. Why has our family fought against demons for generations? he thought. Rael Leston's will had always been set on the Demon Realm. Holding back the monsters crossing the North Sea was only the beginning—his ultimate goal had always been conquest of that accursed land. The only reason it hadn't happened yet was a lack of strength. There had to be a deeper truth behind this long-standing hatred. If Rael Leston really had come from the Demon Realm, as Libre claimed... Caron wondered what they had been pursuing all this time. "I need to ask Grandfather about this once I get back," he muttered. Libre had claimed that Halo Leston had already discovered this truth. And if that was true, perhaps the duke held the answers Caron now desperately needed. One thing was certain—the Ducal Family of Leston and the Demon Realm were tied together, somehow. And if anything had truly gotten under Caron's skin, it was this... "Beyond the veil lies the end of this world. Just a personal theory, of course—but I believe the truths of the past are buried there." The Demon Realm, hiding the secret of this world... My reincarnation probably is related to this somehow, Caron thought. The Demon King of Void had twisted Caron's destiny. It wouldn't be surprising if that had something to do with the hidden truths Libre spoke of. But there was no use agonizing over it now. Once he reached that place, he would find the answers himself. "Let's head back to Azureocean Castle," Caron declared. The matter in the Neon Kingdom was settled. Their long journey had come to an end—it was time to return home. Leo let out a quiet sigh and nodded, then asked, "You're really going to start seclusion training?" "Yes, I need to refine Eclipse, and fully absorb the power of Slaughter," Caron answered. Even if he had taken that power into himself without much trouble, digesting it completely was another story. "I'll talk with Grandfather once I'm back," he added. He had learned so much, but now was the time to absorb it all. "And I made a pretty decent profit out of this," he said with a faint grin. "I've got my own personal knight order now." He'd gained around one hundred and twenty Death Knights as allies. Though they had become something new—Avengers—they hadn't lost the strengths they held in death. They were knights who felt no fear, knights who had achieved immortality. It was, without question, the greatest prize of their journey. "If I forged gear for them using dragonbone and the metal from Saint Kamael's coffin, wouldn't they be quite useful?" Caron asked. "...Are you trying to bring down the world?" Leo muttered. "Leo," Caron said with a smirk. "Power is only ever a good thing. The more, the better. Once we're back at Azureocean Castle, I want to see if we can start training the Avengers properly. They'll make excellent sparring partners for the Oceanwolf Knight Order." These Avengers were seasoned veterans, shaped by the endless wars between the southern kingdoms. Their experience in real combat was unmatched. There was no doubt—they would greatly strengthen Azureocean Castle's forces. Caron raised a glass of water from the table, took a slow drink, and wiped his mouth with a smile. He said, "It's time to go back to Azureocean Castle, Leo." "...Caron, do I have to join you for the seclusion training?" Leo asked carefully. "That's up to you. You can take on another mission, or go hang out with women. You're an adult now—I'm not going to say anything," Caron replied. "Thank god—" Leo began, but couldn't finish his sentence. "But remember this," Caron interrupted, his tone turning serious. "You do have to stay with me in the future. And you know what happens if you fall behind, right?" So Leo, too, would be trapped in seclusion training. Still, after all they'd been through, he'd gained a great deal of combat experience. Now was the time to let it settle into his bones. The group had decided on their next steps. And Seria, of course, was part of the Warrior's group. "Saintess, you can rest a bit once we get back to Azureocean Castle," Caron said. "I was planning on it anyway," Seria said. "No reason to drag this out, right? Let's move immediately," Caron added And just like that, the Mad Dog who had upended the palace of the Neon Kingdom made his decision. It was time to return home—time to return to Azureocean Castle. Before leaving the royal palace of the Neon Kingdom, Caron left the nobles with a final warning. "If I hear so much as a whisper about corruption or tyranny, I will come back. Keep that in mind." "Y-Yes, of course!" one of the nobles said. "We will devote ourselves to restoring the kingdom's glory!" another noble added. They all stood at the palace gates, where the surviving nobles had gathered to see Caron and his group off. Though they had been freed from the brutal tyranny of the Mercenary King, the weight of a new burden now rested on their shoulders—the enormous task of rebuilding the Neon Kingdom. Not a single one dared to question Caron's words. After all, he had not only slain the dreaded Mercenary King, but also decapitated a Demon King. Caron was a force strong enough to shift the balance of the entire continent. No noble present had the courage—or foolishness—to defy him. Only one person clicked her tongue and spoke with sarcasm in her voice. "Tsk tsk. I can't help but feel deeply moved watching someone abandon all responsibility and sneak away. Such betrayal. Truly shameful," the Pirate Queen, Kynda Reynolds, said with a smirk. Caron glanced at her and let out a soft chuckle, then said, "You should slip out quietly yourself, Your Majesty. Just don't start scheming like the Mercenary King did." "You think I'm you? I'll just take in the mercenaries and leave it at that," Kynda replied. There were still mercenaries scattered across the Neon Kingdom. Kynda's goal was to absorb them into her pirate crew before anyone else got to them. She extended her right hand toward Caron and said, "Next time we meet, I imagine you'll be even stronger than you are now?" "Of course," Caron answered. "Then maybe... You'll have surpassed me by then. Honestly, I can't even say for sure which of us would win today," Kynda added. "Well, if Your Majesty went all-out, I don't think I'd stand much chance," Caron said. "When I get the time, I'll drop by Azureocean Castle," Kynda said with a mischievous smile, winking one eye. "One of these days, we really should settle who's on top, don't you think?" Then, lowering her voice to a near whisper, she added, "I'll go ahead and hand the Mad Dog Pirate Crew over to you." "...Why would I want a bunch of pirate bastards?" Caron asked. "Don't you need someone to handle things behind the scenes now?" Kynda said, sighing dramatically. "You should be thanking me." Honestly, when Caron thought about it, having a few obedient pirates under his command wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. Rumor had it that more and more pirates were breaking away from the Queen's influence lately anyway. "I've handpicked a solid group," Kynda added. "Use them well." "If you're handing them over, I'll at least try to use them," Caron replied with a smile. "I already gave them orders to prepare for departure, so be careful on your way back," Kynda said. "Thanks," Caron said. Leaving the pirates at the harbor in the Leston duchy and putting them to work on odd jobs could actually be useful—cleaning up the coasts, hunting rogue pirates, that sort of thing. And the fact that Kynda was giving up her own men meant she truly trusted Caron. After exchanging parting words with Kynda and the nobles, Caron and his group departed the palace with light steps. The citizens gathered at the front of the palace broke into cheers, offering roaring applause to Caron's group. "May the heroes be forever blessed!" The gloom and despair from when they had first arrived was gone. The people, finally freed from the grip of the Mercenary King, now waved with joy and hope on their faces—expressions brighter than the kingdom had seen in years. Seated atop his horse, Caron smiled awkwardly and gave a small wave. He muttered, "I'm still not used to this kind of attention." "I wonder how they'd react if they knew what you were really like," Leo said. "Regardless of intent, Caron did save them," Seria chimed in. "This nation was nearly devoured by dark mages and mercenaries. Sometimes, the outcome says it all." Leo shrugged and gave a small nod, then said, "You've got a point." "So, Leo," Seria called out, eyes narrowing. "Stop ruining the mood and wave to them, will you? Read the room," Seria said. "...Ah. Yes, I will," Leo replied. And so, amid the cheers of the people, the group made their way toward the city gates. Caron Leston and his group had become saviors of the Neon Kingdom, and this day marked the beginning of Caron's name spreading across all the southern realms. Beneath an ashen sky that blanketed the land, a tall tower stood alone. At its peak, a man awaited a guest with a rare expression of welcome. "It's been a long time, Demon King of Havoc," the guest said with a seductive smile. The man gave a casual wave and said, "A long time, you say... You've been among humans too long, Laia. You've picked up their way of speaking." The Demon King of Havoc slowly rose from his black throne. Shadows pooled beneath him, then surged up like a living tide—wrapping themselves tightly around the neck of the visiting woman: Laia, the Queen of the Succubi. "I wonder what brings the Queen of the Succubi to my fortress," Havoc said coolly. Despite the fact that her life could have ended in that very moment, Laia's smile never faltered. In fact, it only deepened as she met his gaze. "The Demon King of Slaughter suffered a serious blow," Laia said. "It seems the Dark Magic Tower Master, Libre, has made his move." "Libre, you say? Now that is interesting. Continue." "Libre has joined Caron Leston. It looks like the Demon King of Void is finally making a real move," Laia continued. "How entertaining," Havoc said. The Demon King of Havoc took a slow step toward her, his voice languid and amused as he asked, "And how is Slaughter?" "There's a deep fracture in his domain. His demon subordinates are beginning to revolt..." Laia trailed off. "It seems he's been properly dealt with by Libre. Does Sloth know of this?" Havoc asked. Laia served the Demon King of Sloth. She had been his faithful servant for many long centuries. Updates are released by NovєlFіre.net But something about her felt off. The Demon King of Havoc sensed something unfamiliar in her—an emotion in her eyes that hadn't been there before. "I haven't reported anything to the Demon King of Sloth yet," Laia replied. "How amusing. Go on," Havoc said. "If the Demon King of Slaughter collapses , wouldn't that create problems for all of us?" Laia asked. A dark ripple spread from her back as black wings unfurled—emitting an ominous shimmer. "With the heroes of the continent aiming for the Demon Realm, someone needs to step into Slaughter's domain and restore order," Laia continued. And the identity of that "someone" was all too obvious. The Demon King of Havoc chuckled quietly, locking eyes with her. Succubi were among the most reviled creatures even among demons—parasitic beings that fed off the basest, filthiest desires. And Laia stood at the top of that loathed hierarchy. Until now, she had hidden under the shadow of Sloth's protection. But the Demon King of Havoc saw it clearly now—how dangerously she had grown. She no longer bothered to hide her ambition. "I've been preparing for this opportunity for a very long time," Laia said. "And if it had been me instead of Slaughter who fell?" Havoc asked. "Then my fangs would have turned toward you, naturally. Isn't that how our laws work? Among demons, power is everything," Laia answered. "You speak boldly for one not even born a true demon," Havoc pointed out. "Oh my, you ought to keep a lady's secrets," Laia teased. With a simple gesture, she pushed aside the shadows wrapping around her. Petals danced around her like a surreal breeze as she smiled. "I plan to swallow Slaughter's domain whole," she declared. "Such grotesque, bloated ambition," Havoc murmured. "But dreams born from succubi," Laia whispered, "sometimes become reality. So please, Demon King of Havoc, stay out of this. My dream won't harm you in any way." "Are you aiming for Leston?" Havoc asked. At that, Laia beamed and nodded, then asked, "You're no different, are you?" "So that's what caught your eye," Havoc mused. "I see." The Demon King of Havoc withdrew the darkness from her throat and sank back into his throne, his gaze cool but intrigued. "It seems our goals align, for now. I'll cooperate with your little scheme," he said. "I am most grateful for your mercy, Demon King of Havoc," Laia said with a smile. With that, she vanished, leaving only a trail of fluttering petals behind. The Demon King of Havoc gazed at the petals in silence, his lips curled into a soft smile. Then he turned his eyes southward and murmured to himself, "Do not make me wait too much longer." The moment he had awaited for countless years was drawing near at last. And so, his smile lingered quietly on his face.