Clopeh Sekka on Cale’s side, and Terosa on the Demon King’s side.

Why is this so entertaining?

Cale watched the two of them face off with growing interest.

Neither spoke as they stared at each other.

And yet their eyes were vicious.

Their faces, however, wore gentle smiles or calm expressions.

Wow.

With two lunatics in the room, even this was interesting.

He almost wanted to bring over some apple pie—or no, popcorn—and sit there eating while he watched.

Hmm.

But then—

This silence is way too long, isn’t it?

The two of them were confronting each other in utter silence.

In that stillness, Cale thought,

Do lunatics communicate through eye contact or something?

Weren’t both of them a little similarly unhinged?

No way.

They probably just had a lot on their minds and had paused to think for a moment.

That was what Cale assumed.

He was wrong.

“Heh.”

Terosa, who had been wearing a calm expression, finally spoke.

“You’re a funny one.”

Her tone had changed.

“There isn’t a shred of loyalty in your eyes when you speak of the Demon King.”

Clopeh Sekka was speaking of the Demon King.

But there was neither reverence nor loyalty toward the Demon King in him.

Like Young Master Jimon.

That irreverent bastard, Young Master Jimon.

A man arrogant enough to try and swallow up the land the Demon King desired for himself.

He too had neither respect nor loyalty for the Demon King.

“And yet I find you trustworthy.”

Yes.

And yet this man called Kase did feel trustworthy.

The reason was simple.

“You trust me.”

Grin.

Clopeh’s faint smile deepened.

As expected, she’s no pushover.

He had heard that although she was pathetic in battle, she had graduated top of her class from the Demon World Royal Academy and possessed an exceptional mind.

More than that, he had heard that her intuition was chillingly sharp.

“Yes. I trust you, Terosa.”

Clopeh continued in a more relaxed tone.

“To you, the Demon King is a legend—and a path.”

Yes. To me, Cale Henituse is a path.

“And for that path, you have devoted your life, you are devoting your life, and you will continue to devote your life.”

That proof—that my faith and my life have not been wrong—I can see it through the path Cale-nim walks.

That is why I wagered my life on it.

“I trust the life you’ve staked on it.”

As she listened to Clopeh’s words, Terosa was seized by a strange feeling.

She was a sharp woman.

Are you insane?

Which was why she knew very well how people reacted to her.

There was no way she could fail to know.

Hey. You’re going too far. We’re just retainers, and the Demon King is simply our liege. All we need to do is obey his orders well.

Her loyalty toward the Demon King.

Her faith.

She already knew that people judged it as something close to fanaticism.

You’ll do anything just to stand out, won’t you?

Some called her mad. Others said that as a mere commoner, she would do anything to succeed.

Terosa knew every one of those things people said, and she understood exactly what they meant.

She knew how she appeared to others.

Terosa. I am weary of this world.

But the Demon King truly—

I want to make a world that is no longer weary.

—was the only one fit to become a demon god.

The instant Terosa saw the yearning buried in those bored eyes of his, she decided to throw her life away for him.

That was why she had never cared about what others thought.

And yet why—

Then why was this outsider in front of her—

Why are you looking at me as if you know my heart so well?

Terosa read sincerity in both Clopeh’s words and his eyes.

And so she answered.

“You too have devoted your life to something enough not to care how others look at you.”

At that, Clopeh only smiled.

“Hah!”

For some reason, a laugh escaped Terosa.

Count Lupe’s disappearance.

She knew the truth—that he was dead, and had become a New World NPC.

She was one of the Demon King’s closest aides, after all.

That was why it bothered her that things were stalling, that becoming lord was being delayed because Count Lupe’s merchant guild ownership deed still had not been found.

She could not allow the Demon King’s great work to collapse because of her.

And yet this outsider, who had suddenly appeared before her, made her feel at ease for the first time in a long while.

“You’re an interesting person.”

At Terosa’s words, Clopeh only continued smiling.

A strange sense of kinship wrapped around Terosa.

But her expression soon returned to what it had been before.

“If the mana imprinted on that deed is properly confirmed through a magic device to be Count Lupe’s, then I will believe this birth certificate.”

She had too much to do, so she made her decision quickly.

No, because of this decision, she would have even more to do.

And that did not seem entirely bad.

“I will help you acquire Young Master Jimon’s mine. In return.”

In return—

“I want you to make sure Young Master Jimon cannot stand as a candidate.”

Her eyes fixed on Clopeh.

“And I want you to write a statement declaring that you, too, will not stand as a candidate.”

Terosa did not trust Clopeh.

The only thing she trusted was the Demon King.

She had to be wary of everything and consider everything.

For in the road ahead of him, only his will should remain.

“Yes. That can be arranged.”

Even at Clopeh’s ready answer, Terosa did not let her guard down.

She rose from her seat, looking at Clopeh and his younger brother—whose name she did not even bother remembering—and said,

“The sooner, the better, yes?”

“We can meet Young Master Jimon today.”

“Good.”

Terosa stepped outside the door and spoke to the subordinate waiting there.

“Prepare a place for these gentlemen to rest briefly, and then bring them to me. There is something urgent that must be handled.”

“Ah, one moment.”

Clopeh cut in.

“I have more younger siblings, so I need to ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) go pick them up first.”

“Ah. Then bring your younger siblings and come to the lord’s castle. I’ll make sure you’re sent directly to me.”

After saying that, she fell silent for a moment before asking,

“So you’re not blood-related?”

At her gaze toward Clopeh and Cale, Clopeh answered with a smile.

“We’re a family bound by trust deeper than blood.”

At that, Terosa nodded.

Not blood-related.

That man, Kase, was Count Lupe’s only blood descendant.

That was all she needed to remember.

“Then I’ll see you later.”

Terosa left first.

Click. Click.

The moment she turned and walked away, her expression hardened.

Young Master Jimon’s mine?

Heh.

That might be what he claimed to be after when he came here—

but that could not be his real goal.

Count Lupe’s secret vault.

That was what he wanted.

Of course it was.

That was how he would become the owner of the greatest merchant guild in the Demon World.

He had clearly said he wanted money. There was no way a mere mine would satisfy him.

You can tell at a glance he’s crazy.

Terosa intended to use him to uncover the secret vault as well.

Through him, I’ll bring down Jimon and Count Lupe’s bloodline, and I’ll take the secret vault for myself as well.

Then she would become lord and pour financial support into the Demon King’s cause.

The smile on Terosa’s lips deepened.

Something that was blocked may finally start moving.

She gave an order to the knight who had been waiting outside and had followed after her.

“Bring Mol.”

“The leader of the Third Army?”

“Yes. I’ll attach him as an escort to those two.”

The Demon King’s eight armies.

And among them, Baron Deshuran, commander of the Sixth Army, was currently missing.

At present, the leader of the Third Army was staying here.

Ordinarily, he too would be leaving soon, but—

He’s always slacking off anyway, so I might as well put him to work.

If someone of his rank was going to abandon his army and loaf around alone, then the least she could do was make him earn his keep.

He’ll enjoy it.

He was an odd demon to begin with, so he would probably enjoy the job of escorting two ordinary merchants immensely.

He’s smart, too. He’ll handle it on his own.

It was a secret that the Third Army had come here.

As long as his identity remained hidden, she would be able to slip him into Young Master Jimon’s side, into the very heart of the bloodline.

Good.

Terosa welcomed this sudden variable.

And—

“Human, are we packing up and heading straight to the old castle?”

Back at the house, Cale nodded as he stuffed their meager belongings into his spatial pouch.

“Yeah. Clopeh handled things really well.”

At Cale’s words, Raon glanced sideways at Clopeh.

Flinch.

Clopeh stiffened for a moment, then failed to hide the smile tugging at his mouth.

Cale did not notice the smile and simply kept packing. Raon spoke.

“Then what do I do?”

Cale opened his mouth.

But Clopeh answered first.

“Terosa will probably attach someone to keep watch on us. It would be best if you remained invisible and followed in hiding.”

Cale closed his mouth.

It’s nice when someone answers for me.

Clopeh, that bastard.

He really was convenient.

“Then I’m curious whether we’re just following along!”

At Hong’s question, Clopeh answered with a calm smile.

“On and Hong can come with us. You’ll be the Fourth and Fifth.”

Hong tilted his head.

“If Noona is Fourth and I’m Fifth, then I’m curious who Third is!”

“Sui Khan-nim, of course.”

“Hm?”

Sui Khan, who had been sitting slumped off to the side, looked baffled.

“I’m Third?”

“Sui Khan, I’ll dye you my color too!”

Delighted, Raon rushed over and dyed Sui Khan’s white hair black.

Blood was still seeping from the bandages wrapped around his arm, but with potions and medicine they had slowed it as much as possible.

Cale glanced at it and opened his mouth, but again Clopeh was faster.

“Yes. You need to move with us.”

“No, that’s not the issue. I’m Third?”

“Then would you rather be the youngest?”

Clopeh asked, puzzled, and Sui Khan could not find an answer.

Pffft.

Cale let out a deflating little laugh as he looked down at Sui Khan.

Under that gaze, Sui Khan opened his mouth and fumbled soundlessly for a moment before finally squeezing his eyes shut.

“This is......”

His sigh reached no one.

Cale spoke.

“Clopeh will handle most of the interactions with the other demons, so we need to keep our mouths shut as much as possible and focus on hiding ourselves so our identities don’t get exposed.”

Then Cale asked Clopeh,

“You can handle Terosa and the Demon King’s people yourself, right?”

“Yes. Leave it to me.”

Clopeh had dealt with Terosa more skillfully than Cale had expected.

Do lunatics really understand each other?

That was what Cale was thinking when—

“Heh.”

Clopeh let out a low laugh and murmured quietly,

“Terosa is still immature. I overestimated her.”

“Hm?”

When Cale asked in puzzlement, Clopeh answered as if it were nothing.

“She’s shallower than I expected.”

After saying that, Clopeh said nothing more.

Cale was curious what exactly he meant by shallow, but he did not ask.

I don’t think I’d get a good answer if I asked more.

Clopeh Sekka. It was better not to have long conversations with that bastard.

Based on everything he had experienced so far, Cale turned away from Clopeh.

And as he packed for Cale’s comfortable journey, Clopeh thought of Terosa.

Her faith is shallow.

She said she had wagered her life on the Demon King.

But—

It’s lacking.

By Clopeh’s standards, it was lacking.

She’s watching other people’s reactions.

He could feel that she was swayed by the reputation and judgment of those around her.

That was why Clopeh’s words had comforted and reassured her.

Ridiculous.

If her faith in her own path had truly been firm, she would never have been shaken like that.

Clopeh’s gaze shifted to Cale, who was examining Sui Khan’s bandages.

Cale-nim—

Living at Cale’s side, Clopeh was not ignorant of how others looked at him.

He knew they thought him insane.

But he did not care.

The only gaze I see is the one directed toward Cale-nim.

Cale had crossed many worlds.

The eyes turned toward him by countless people were full of awe and respect.

And I, beside such a man, walk the path he walks together with him.

Clopeh could not suppress the emotion swelling inside him.

“Haa—”

He let out a deep breath and barely managed to force it back down. Then he thought,

The secret vault.

Terosa will place someone on us because she thinks I have it.

That, too, will be useful if properly exploited.

I may even be able to place the vault directly into Cale-nim’s hands.

“Heh—”

A laugh slipped out of him before he realized it.

Hm?

Then his eyes met On’s.

Then Hong’s beside her.

And beside them was Raon.

The average ten-year-olds were staring at him.

“......”

Clopeh calmed down, and On let out a small sigh.

*****

“The department head of the New Business Department you saw earlier will accompany you as your guide. And here—just in case of any unforeseen threats—are the two subordinates who will be in charge of your protection.”

She had attached not one, but two escorts.

A serious middle-aged man, and a young man who looked to be in his late twenties.

“A pleasure to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you!”

Standing quietly beside Clopeh, Cale saw that unlike the older knight’s neat, restrained greeting, the younger knight greeted them with bright energy. Dressed in a knight’s formal uniform, the blond knight smiled with an open, friendly face.

Just then, Raon, who was some distance away under invisibility, spoke to him.

—Human, that knight looks strong!

The knight Raon meant was the young one.

And then—

—Sniff sniff.

The Sound of the Wind suddenly reacted.

—That’s strange. Why do I smell a divine relic on that knight? It’s a smell I’ve never encountered before.

From Raon’s words and the Sound of the Wind’s reaction, Cale reached a conclusion.

A divine relic wouldn’t be in the hands of some ordinary, brand-new escort knight.

This young knight Terosa had attached to them—Cale did not know who he really was, but he was strong. And there was a high probability his position was anything but ordinary.

After all, he was carrying a divine relic as casually as if it were nothing, when even Terosa herself did not have one.

And yet this knight—

“Then please get in the carriage! I’ll drive! I look forward to working with you! Hehe!”

Somehow, the way he smiled was unbelievably dopey.

He looked far too dim-witted.

—Human, that knight is smiling like he’s definitely going to scam someone!

Seriously.

It was a different kind of warning from the one Cale had felt when he first met Crown Prince Alberu Crossman, but his instincts still rang.

Unlike His Highness, that bastard just reeks of pure con artist!

Cale’s expression changed.

Without realizing it, he said,

“I look forward to working with you too! Hahaha!”

—Human, why are you smiling like you’re about to scam someone too?

Ah.

I reacted without thinking.

And the young knight who received that greeting smiled in an open, friendly—or perhaps foolish—way as he thought,

He looks decent enough, but he’s really kind of a dumbass, isn’t he? Maybe I should use him to fish out some information.

The Demon King’s eight armies.

And among them, the leader of the Third Army, a man called the Hand Behind the Back—Mol—smiled more deeply.

The Hand Behind the Back.

It was a disparaging nickname he had earned because he was so good at stabbing people in the back, but Mol liked it so much that he introduced himself with it openly.

“Hahaha!”

“Haha!”

Cale and Mol.

The two looked at each other and laughed.

Clatter, clatter.

The carriage carrying Cale headed for the northern old castle where Young Master Jimon was staying.

And the Pope of the Order of the God of Chaos was staying there as well.

*****

The Pope looked puzzled when he saw Young Master Jimon throw open the door in urgency.

Young Master Jimon said hurriedly,

“Terosa says she’s sending a merchant here to buy the mine! He’s obviously one of her people—what am I supposed to do?”

Jimon could not hide his frustration.

“As if it weren’t enough that more and more of the Order’s knights have suddenly started gathering here—there’s a limit to how long I can keep all of you hidden! The lord’s seat is close, the great work is close, damn it! Why is Terosa making a move this reckless......!”

The Pope looked at Young Master Jimon, his ally, and spoke with a smile.

“You’re saying the Demon King’s side suddenly sent someone here?”

“That’s right!”

A peculiar smile settled on the Pope’s lips.

*****

And two men stood atop a rather high mountain, looking down below.

“It looks like Choi Jung Soo went there?”

“Yeah. I think so too.”

Clutching the marker Choi Jung Soo had left behind, Choi Han stared at the old castle far to the south.

The Heavenly Demon, his arms folded as he too looked at the old castle, said,

“Do we need to infiltrate it?”

“It looks like the Order of the God of Chaos has made that place their base. I don’t think we can just infiltrate recklessly.”

“Hmm. Then we may need disguises.”

Disguises.

As he took in the Heavenly Demon’s words, Choi Han studied the map.

“Dioriel.”

“Hm?”

“The city below that old castle is Dioriel. I think it used to be Count Lupe’s city.”

With a sigh, Choi Han made his decision.

“For now, let’s sneak into the old castle. Can you do that?”

“That much is easy.”

Soon, Choi Han and the Heavenly Demon sped south.

In the direction they were heading stood Young Master Jimon’s old castle.