0.0000001% Demon King - 0DK Chapter 47: The Masterless Ones (3) (Part 1)
“Aaaah! Aaaaaaah!”
The demon, belatedly realizing his situation, collapsed, wailing. None of his comrades moved to help him.
“Wh-what… this…?”
“Ho.”
The demons who had been backing away from Sinclair flinched at the voice that came from behind them.
“Now that I think about it, she’s strong even without being a slave of the gods, isn’t she?”
Bathesia bared her teeth from behind them.
The reality of being trapped hit the demons hard.
“W-w-What are you talking about?”
One demon asked in confusion with trembling eyes.
“You! Who are you? I’ve never heard of someone like you!”
Sinclair shrugged at the childish complaint.
“Just think of me as a friend.”
“No! You’re cheating! This is unfair!”
“Have you lost your mind?”
Sinclair stepped back with a bored expression.
“Even your mental fortitude is at the level of a human. Surprisingly weak. What are you going to do? Stand there and do nothing?”
“Of course not.”
Bathesia waved her hand. Her magic became a tempest, sweeping through the alley. The demons disappeared without even a chance to scream.
Bathesia clenched her teeth with a face full of frustration.
“My pride is being shredded to pieces.”
She focused more on magic than physical strength. If Sinclair hadn’t been there, it could have been genuinely dangerous.
“…Thanks.”
“It’s nothing.”
Sinclair accepted the thanks with a cheerful smile.
“We’re on the same side, so it’s natural to help each other. There’s no need to express thanks.”
“Tsk.”
Bathesia clicked her tongue but didn’t argue like before. Sinclair, inspecting the demons’ bodies, muttered.
“That halfling isn’t here.”
“That little guy must have run away quickly.”
“…Should we catch him?”
Bathesia shook her head at Sinclair’s hesitant question.
“Forget it. Halflings are weak but very good at self-preservation. He’s probably already far away.”
“Trying to catch him might cause chaos.”
“Exactly. He knows he’d be killed if he shows up again, so he won’t appear anymore. Right now, our priority is to escape.”
Somehow, the halfling and the demons knew that Bathesia was there.
Someone had discovered their whereabouts. Bathesia gathered magic in her hands and released it.
Boom!
The alleyway opened up with a loud noise. Bathesia surged forward with the wave of magic. The wave shattered the entrance of the building.
Crash!
“Karos!”
Bathesia shouted, blowing away the debris.
“We’ve been found! We need to escape immediately…”
Her eyes wavered. A man with white hair was looking at her with a curious expression.
“G-Great Demon…”
“Not anymore. Just an old retiree.”
“Sir Neviros…”
She looked at Neviros with dazed eyes, her reverence and worship momentarily making her forget about Karos.
It was natural. The Great Demon King was the master of all Demon Kings, the one who granted them power, and the ruler of the Demon Realm. Most demons would willingly sacrifice their lives for the Great Demon King, and Bathesia was no exception.
“You are Bathesia, one of the Sovereign under his command.”
A faint smile appeared on Neviros’s lips.
“Even in your weakened state, you have such power. You are deserving of your title.”
“T-thank you…”
She was about to bow with a grateful face when she snapped back to her senses.
‘I shouldn’t!’
She was Karos’s subordinate. She needed to inform him of the danger. That judgment suppressed her instinct to obey.
“I’m sorry, Neviros. I need to take Karos with me.”
“There’s no need.”
“…Oh. You already knew? It was right in front of you, so of course, you would know. Then, you can directly…”
“I’m the one who called them.”
At Neviros’s indifferent words, Bathesia’s face hardened.
“Sir Neviros…?”
“You heard correctly.”
Karos nodded toward Neviros.
“This old man called them.”
“Wh-what are you saying? Neviros-sama wouldn’t do such a thing…”
“If Bathesia focused on magic, she might struggle, but she’s stronger than expected. Or is it that her companion exceeds my expectations?”
“Reluctantly, I’ve acquired useful subordinates. So, did you enjoy yourself?”
“Well. I’m not sure yet.”
Karos and Neviros conversed leisurely. Bathesia barely managed to speak up.
“Neviros-sama, what you said… is it true?”
“It is.”
Neviros replied calmly.
“I gave information to that halfling. Those foolish creatures eagerly ran towards it.”
“Wh-why…”
“Because I’m retired.”
A small smile appeared on Neviros’s impassive face.
“It gets boring. I collect information as a hobby, but demons inherently enjoy strife and bloodshed.”
Neviros grinned devilishly.
“Watching one of the rulers fall to lowly creatures would be entertaining. I even provided a magic overload device, but it was less useful than expected. Lowly creatures are just lowly creatures.”
“…”
“I know what you expected from me.”
Neviros gave a bitter smile at Bathesia’s betrayed look.
“But this is what I am now. Having abandoned being a Demon King, I am just a twisted old man.”
“Is that so…”
“That’s why I told you not to meet him.”
Karos clicked his tongue. As a ruler, Bathesia held great admiration for the Great Demon King. Witnessing the reality was bound to be shocking.
“So that’s how it is.”
Bathesia lowered her head. Karos looked at her with pity and spoke.
“So, was the price sufficient?”
Neviros hadn’t played his prank without reason. There was a price for it.
“The condition was that you would provide information if you enjoyed yourself.”
“What!?”
Bathesia, who had been disheartened, looked up in surprise.
“That was the deal?”
“You weren’t in any real danger because of her anyway.”
“That’s true, but…”
She looked frustrated at being used as bait, but Karos paid no mind and asked again.
“So, did you enjoy yourself?”
“I did, but it wasn’t enough.”
Neviros had an unsatisfied expression. Bathesia hadn’t been captured, nor had she even been injured. For someone who enjoyed bloodshed, it was an unsatisfactory outcome.
“Boy. The price for what you want is not sufficient. I would like you to entertain me more.”
“If you say so.”
Karos spoke as if he had been waiting for this.
“I have information that would interest you.”
“Do you propose to trade information with me?”
Neviros chuckled.