The long-awaited moment arrived a few days after a letter was received from the 71st floor.
Nahin and Kain were out at the castle gate to personally welcome a special guest.
The tension on Kain’s face was evident as he waited for the guest.
Nahin, noticing his uncharacteristic nervousness, tried to ease his tension.
“Kain, relax a bit. You’ll end up giving yourself away like that.”
“Ah, understood.”
Nahin sighed inwardly, wondering how just two years had changed him so much, considering he used to meet even greater figures when the previous generation was alive.
The sound of hoofbeats echoed in the distance, and Nahin looked beyond the castle gate.
Soon, a black carriage, lavishly decorated, appeared, pulled by two bicorns—special creatures that only exist in the demon realm.
“They’re finally here.”
A smile spread across Nahin’s face.
The thought of the enormous funding that would soon pour into this impoverished Demon Lord’s castle made it impossible for him not to smile.
Without realizing it, he let out a quiet chuckle.
“Hehe.”
Seeing Nahin laugh to himself, Kain and even the servants showed slight unease.
Realizing that he might have laughed too oddly, Nahin cleared his throat and adjusted his expression.
The bicorn-drawn carriage stopped in front of the castle gate, and Kain, speaking in a measured tone, commanded the servants.
“Open the gate.”
His voice was slightly elevated from tension, but it was acceptable.
Nahin thought that experience was something that could not be erased as he stepped forward to welcome the guest.
“Oh?”
Only then did Nahin notice that even the coachman driving the bicorns was no ordinary person.
He was someone close to the Demon Lord inside the carriage.
While others seemed unaware, Nahin, who had played this game dozens of times, immediately recognized him and spoke first.
“This is an honor.”
“Are you referring to me?”
“Yes.”
“I fail to see what is honorable about meeting a mere coachman.”
“A coachman? Nonsense.”
With a knowing look, Nahin respectfully bowed.
“To meet the wise Baphomet, I could not have expected more. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Nahin.”
At Nahin’s words, the coachman’s expression stiffened instantly.
Kain also froze at Nahin’s bold use of the name of the famous sage Baphomet toward a mere coachman.
“N-Nahin, sir!”
Kain called out urgently, wondering just how far Nahin’s eccentricity would go, but Nahin didn’t lift his head, as if waiting for the coachman to acknowledge his greeting.
“…When did you realize?”
“Wouldn’t it be strange if I hadn’t?”
“It seems like you’re the only one who knew.”
Nahin glanced at Baphomet, then looked around.
It seemed Baphomet was right; the others, including Kain, were still staring at Nahin with puzzled expressions, as if he were mad for bowing to a coachman before the guest had even exited the carriage.
“Indeed.”
“Heh.”
Baphomet let out a light laugh, then asked a question toward the carriage.
“How was it?”
“Intriguing.”
The door of the carriage opened on its own without anyone touching it, revealing a powerful magic at work.
Nahin had already sensed the strong presence of magic since earlier.
A sensuous woman stepped out of the carriage, her presence so alluring and beautiful that the male servants couldn’t help but let out gasps of admiration.
Her golden hair cascaded over her curvaceous shoulders, and her enchanting green eyes exuded a captivating charm.
Seeing her, Nahin gave a knowing smile and bowed deeply.
Kain and the rest of the servants followed suit, bowing in unison.
Nahin, representing them, greeted her.
“It is an honor to meet you.”
With bold eyes, Nahin bowed to the current 71st-ranked Demon Lord.
“Lady Sitri.”
Her name was Sitri.
“You saw through Baphomet’s disguise? You’re no ordinary fellow, are you?”
“No ordinary person would be tasked with tutoring the Demon Lord, would they?”
“…Ha.”
Sitri sneered, but Nahin remained unfazed.
Having amassed the knowledge necessary to mentor a Demon Lord, the difference in rank between them didn’t seem to matter to him.
Kain, on the other hand, was shocked.
“What on earth is this arrogant manner of speaking?”
No matter how much of an outsider Nahin was, he now belonged to the 72nd floor.
Kain worried that Sitri might retaliate against Seere.
Fortunately, Sitri didn’t seem to think so.
In fact, she was intrigued.
A man who had immediately identified Baphomet’s hidden identity and showed the boldness Nahin displayed now wasn’t ordinary.
Sitri found him quite entertaining.
“I suppose that’s true.”
Kain sighed in relief when he saw Sitri’s positive reaction.
Meanwhile, Nahin, as if he had expected it, lifted his head with a confident smile and asked Sitri.
“May I ask the reason for your visit?”
“You’re in quite a hurry. We can discuss it inside.”
“I’m afraid not, unless your reason is justifiable.”
“What?”
Sitri’s brow furrowed slightly.
Kain stood there, dumbfounded by Nahin’s actions, but Nahin remained indifferent to her change in expression.
“I apologize, but this area belongs to Seere von Devata.”
Nahin closed his eyes for a brief moment before reopening them.
“Even a Demon Lord of your rank cannot trespass upon another Demon Lord’s domain without good reason. I would appreciate it if you could provide such a reason. It wasn’t mentioned in your letter, after all.”
Sitri let out a small, incredulous laugh.
Sitri let out a scoff, her lips curling in mild amusement.
“Am I being slighted by someone like you now?”
She thought to herself how things had changed.
In the past, someone like Nahin wouldn’t even have dared speak to her this way.
Once a powerful Demon Lord ranked 12th, Sitri had fallen to her current position of 71st due to an incident long ago, a subject that Nahin was now dangerously close to touching.
“I have business with the ruler of the 72nd floor. That’s why I’ve come.”
“Oh, so that’s the reason for your visit,” Nahin replied, still smiling.
Baphomet, standing nearby, had already understood what Nahin was doing.
He was not simply playing a game of arrogance or impudence; he was making a point to remind Sitri—and everyone else—that Seere von Devata, the ruler of the 72nd floor, was not to be underestimated.
Nahin was using this encounter to solidify Seere’s status, which had been shaky for some time.
“A clever one indeed,” Baphomet muttered under his breath.
Nahin caught the whisper and smiled. He turned back to Sitri, adopting a more respectful tone.
“Please forgive my earlier rudeness. As Seere’s protector, I must be cautious in these matters. I hope you can understand.”
“…Fine. Lead me to the reception hall, and bring that child as well.”
“Understood.”
Nahin gave Kain a subtle nod.
Kain, now more in tune with Nahin’s intentions, swiftly bowed and left to escort Seere to the reception hall.
***
Before Seere arrived, Nahin had already led Sitri to the reception hall, with Baphomet remaining by the carriage at Sitri’s command.
This made things much easier for Nahin, who, with a brisk motion, opened the doors to the hall, where the remaining servants bowed in greeting.
“Seems like there are fewer servants than before.”
“I’ve heard it’s due to financial difficulties.”
“Yes, it’s unfortunate.”
Nahin held back his thoughts.
The poverty of Seere’s castle was partially due to Sitri’s influence in the past.
“Please, have a seat.”
Sitri crossed her legs elegantly, exuding a mesmerizing aura, but Nahin, though maintaining his polite smile outwardly, felt disgusted internally.
Her behavior was too obvious, like she was trying to seduce him with her looks.
“She thinks she can tempt me just because I’m a man.”
But Nahin wasn’t interested.
In his eyes, she was nothing more than a walking purse full of money.
Unaware of his thoughts, Sitri smiled to herself, mistaking Nahin’s steady gaze as one of admiration.
“He can’t take his eyes off my legs. Men are always so easy.”
Both of them wore pleasant smiles, but their thoughts were worlds apart.
Nahin decided to strike before Seere arrived.
“Lady Sitri.”
“Speak.”
“You’ve come to discuss military expenses with Seere, haven’t you?”
“…You know it well. Yes, due to the recent invasion of human adventurers, many of our soldiers who were assisting in the defense of the 72nd floor were killed. Naturally, we’ll need compensation and funding for additional reinforcements.”
Nahin’s smile widened slightly, but his tone grew colder, despite his face remaining calm.
“And who ordered those soldiers to be sent?”
“Why, that was out of my benevolent concern. There was no way the 72nd floor’s forces alone could hold back the human incursion.”
At Sitri’s response, Nahin chuckled.
His smile never left his face, but his next words carried a sharp, cutting edge.
“What an utter scam.”
“Pardon? What did you just say?”
Sitri’s eyes widened in disbelief at Nahin’s audacity.
However, Nahin remained perfectly composed as he continued.
“You won’t gain anything by talking to Seere about this. I control the finances of Devata Castle. So, if you want the compensation you’re after, you’ll need to negotiate with me.”
Sitri felt like she had just been hit over the head.
The nerve of him, to call her a scammer and then suggest that she negotiate with him instead!
Her patience, already stretched thin, was about to snap.
Sitri wasn’t the type to tolerate such insolence, especially from someone she outranked by so much.
“How dare you speak to me like that!” she growled, her voice laced with fury.
Powerful waves of magic emanated from her body, filling the entire room and pressing down on the space around them.
It was the raw, overwhelming power of a Demon Lord.
Some of the servants, unable to bear the pressure, collapsed onto the floor, gasping for breath.
But something was off.
Nahin remained unaffected.
He stood there, unflinching, still smiling with that calm, almost mocking expression.
Sitri’s magic, which had brought others to their knees, seemed to have no effect on him whatsoever.
“Why are you so angry, Lady Sitri?”
“You… You still have the nerve to speak after what you said?”
“Is it because I called you a scammer?” Nahin asked, as though he were genuinely puzzled.
“You know perfectly well what you said!”
“Then perhaps you shouldn’t have done such a thing in the first place. Forcing your excess soldiers onto a weaker Demon Lord and then demanding compensation for their deaths? If that’s not the behavior of a scammer, then what is it?”
“You insolent fool!” Sitri roared, her magic condensing into a spear-like shape aimed directly at Nahin.
But Nahin merely glanced at it before flicking his fingers.
Snap!
The spear of magic dissolved into thin air, as if it had never existed.
Sitri froze in place, unable to believe what had just happened. Her magic—dispersed so easily.
“Impossible…”
“Lady Sitri,” Nahin called softly, and she turned to look at him.
What she saw next shook her to her core.
“W-what is this…?”
Nahin still looked like an ordinary demon on the outside, but Sitri could feel it—a massive, terrifying power lurking beneath the surface.
It was so vast and dangerous that even she, a Demon Lord, couldn’t move or speak.
The overwhelming presence rendered her completely frozen in place.
“May I offer you a proposal?”
“A… proposal? In this situation?”
“Yes.”
“Why… Why should I even listen to you…?”
Her voice began to tremble.
In Sitri’s eyes, Nahin no longer seemed like a simple demon.
He appeared like something much larger, much more terrifying—a being capable of swallowing entire realms.
“It would be in your best interest to listen,” Naheon said softly, his voice carrying the weight of inevitability.
“And why is that?”
“Because it concerns the seal placed upon you.”
At those words, Sitri’s entire being froze.
Her trembling voice vanished, and her posture stiffened as her eyes narrowed in focus.
All fear, all hesitation was wiped away in an instant.
“You… Do you understand the weight of what you’re saying?”
Nahin’s words had touched upon Sitri’s deepest, most guarded secret—something that had caused her to fall from her position as one of the highest-ranking Demon Lords.
Sitri was once the ruler of the 12th floor, but due to an incident, her powers had been sealed, and her rank had plummeted to 71st.
Mentioning this was akin to invoking a taboo for her.
Even though Sitri had glimpsed Nahin’s hidden power, her anger now flared with renewed intensity.
The mention of her sealed powers had ignited the fury that burned within her.
“What could you possibly know about that incident? How dare you bring it up?”
Nahin’s smile never wavered.
“I know that you were sealed and cast down from the 12th rank. And I know that the stones used to seal your power are scattered across floors controlled by mid-tier and high-tier Demon Lords.”
Sitri stared at Nahin in disbelief.
Only a select few Demon Lords had been present during the meeting when her powers were sealed. How could Nahin know this?
“How… How do you…?”
“If you wish to regain your full power, you’ll need to conquer the higher floors. I can help you with that.”
“…What?”
“In return, you’ll transfer your excess soldiers to our side and support us financially. I’d also appreciate it if you could solidify your alliance with us.”
Sitri was left speechless.
She wasn’t sure what stunned her more—Nahin’s audacity in making such demands, or his claim that he could help her conquer higher floors.
Each level of the hierarchy was like a whole different world in itself.
How could he possibly pull it off?
“You… How do you plan to help me?”
Nahin smiled, his eyes glinting with confidence.
“You’ve already seen a glimpse of my power, haven’t you?”
“…”
Sitri recalled the overwhelming presence she had felt earlier.
If that was only a fraction of his strength, then…
“Who… Who are you, really?”
Nahin chuckled softly, then spoke with a calm but profound certainty.
“I am the tutor of the Demon Lord.”
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