A tense atmosphere filled the corridors of the royal castle.
Even though the morning sun was shining brightly in the blue sky, the air here was heavy with a grim mood.
The soldiers stationed in the corridor maintained a deep silence.
Apart from them, there were no other people to be seen.
Given that this castle was once always bustling with people, the scene was notably different from usual.
And everyone here, including myself, knew the reason.
It was…
“Kesar…”
A voice calling my name.
I turned my head to look behind me.
There, I saw a demonic man with a cold expression.
The moment I noticed his massive build and the ominous aura he was radiating, I too called his name in a voice laced with coldness.
“…Alexander.”
“You… You’re really audacious, aren’t you? After all that, you’re walking around so nonchalantly.”
“If someone were to hear you, they’d think I’ve come to a place I shouldn’t be. But as a Demon King, I’m here by my rightful authority.”
“Ha! To kill Lord Adolf and still act so boldly… I should’ve listened to him sooner. Can you not see that it’s your sly scheming that has led us to this point?”
“I haven’t done anything. In fact, it’s Adolf’s side that failed in their own ridiculous plots. You can see the traitor’s corpse hanging in the square, can’t you? That makes everything clear.”
“Shut up! Say one more word, and I’ll rip that tongue out!”
Unable to control his rage, Alexander pulled out the axe he had been carrying on his back.
Not long ago, we hadn’t been on such bad terms, but Adolf’s death seemed to have shaken him deeply.
That was understandable, as Adolf had been like a teacher to Alexander.
Although they were both Demon Kings, they shared a close past, so it was no surprise that he would now hate me for driving him to death.
Still, no matter how much he may have had a connection with Adolf, it was only natural for him to despise the traitor.
Despite his anger, Alexander was trying to hold back.
But at this moment, anyone could clearly see the intense anger on his face.
Of course, I had no intention of trying to understand this guy who was throwing a tantrum over what I saw as self-defense.
“If you have a problem with that, come at me. I’ll send your head right next to Adolf’s.”
“You bastard!!”
Finally, it seemed like the lid had been blown off with that one word, and Alexander immediately swung his axe at me.
I quickly drew my sword, preparing to block the attack.
At that moment…
“Both of you, calm down. Fighting in the royal castle of the Great Demon King, of all places? How rude.”
A woman’s voice, quiet yet seemingly resonating in our ears, stopped both of us in our tracks.
Her voice contained a power that could not be ignored, making Alexander and I immediately turn our heads.
There, standing, was a demonic woman with golden hair and black eyes.
Ironically, the golden divine energy and the pitch-black demonic aura she radiated told me exactly who she was.
Demon King Charlemagne Frank.
One of the Four Great Demon Lords, like us, her words carried a warning, and at that, Alexander ground his teeth, but had no choice but to put his axe away.
“Just you wait… I will make sure to repay you for this.”
“You were the one who first aimed your sword at me. It’s pathetic to insist on something everyone already knows.”
“Shut up. You may be acting all high and mighty now, but let’s see how long that arrogance lasts.”
With those words, Alexander, showing his anger, turned and walked away.
Watching him leave, Charlemagne sighed softly and slowly shook her head.
“To not know moderation… that’s what we call someone like him. No matter how upset he may be, to cause such a scene in the royal castle…”
“Please, calm down. It’s Alexander, after all. If he had stayed quiet, that would have been even more unusual.”
With those words, Charlemagne glanced over at me.
Being of lower noble birth and having some similarities to me, she always spoke with a calm, familiar tone as she continued.
“By the way, Kesar, who are you thinking about? The candidate to be the new Demon King, I mean.”
“Are you planning to support them if I tell you?”
“Well… it depends on the situation. Personally, I hope this long-standing conflict can finally come to an end.”
The rift between the Demon Lords that had persisted because of Adolf.
Although the conflict hadn’t escalated into open bloodshed, it was true that the Demon Kingdom hadn’t been able to focus all its strength on waging war because of it.
Just recently, even the Great Demon King had been swayed by Adolf’s words, which was undeniable.
However, if I could place one of my own in the position of the new Demon King, I could fully heal this division.
Although Alexander had been causing trouble, he was fundamentally lacking in intelligence, and his surrounding forces weren’t that strong either.
He was nothing more than a foolish vanguard leader, incapable of achieving anything on his own.
So, as Charlemagne had said, in order to end this tiresome conflict, I had to ensure that Flantsu took the Demon King’s position.
With that in mind, I headed towards the grand hall.
Deep within the castle, in the vast royal hall.
Unlike the usual bustling scene filled with high-ranking officials, at this moment, only five people were present.
As always, behind the curtains stood the Great Demon King and her secretary.
And gathered in one place were the three Demon Lords.
Alexander.
Charlemagne.
And Kesar.
In this room were the most powerful figures who could sway the fate of the Demon Kingdom.
They began the meeting with a serious attitude.
“Then, let’s discuss the new candidate for Demon King.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I recommend Marshal Flantsu. Her abilities are well-known, and I believe she is more than capable of taking on the role of Demon King.”
“Flantsu…”
“Your Majesty, that is unacceptable! She is under Kesar, and not just any subordinate—she is his right-hand! If someone like her becomes Demon King, Kesar’s power will grow far too strong!”
“That sounds like you’re calling me a traitor. Are you planning to slander me with baseless accusations like the dead Adolf did?”
“Shut up! How dare you…”
“Enough, enough. Be quiet.”
With a commanding tone, the Great Demon King immediately calmed the rising tension.
She then continued in a voice filled with an undeniable authority.
“Kesar has recommended Marshal Flantsu as a candidate. What about the rest of you?”
“Yes! I, too, recommend Marshal Feglerai. He achieved great merit in the last battle, and I am certain he will show excellent leadership as Demon King.”
“Isn’t he one of Adolf’s subordinates, the traitor? How can you recommend such a person for Demon King? Are you out of your mind?”
“Feglerai had no part in this. Even if his connections were wrong, it would be unjust to punish someone who has done no wrong and been harmed as a result.”
“Tch…”
Though Kesar scowled at Alexander’s words, he didn’t press the issue any further.
It wasn’t that he didn’t have a rebuttal, but he had to be cautious in the presence of the Great Demon King, so he had no choice but to step back.
“Then, lastly, Charlemagne. Who do you recommend?”
“I recommend…”
With those words, Charlemagne briefly glanced around the room.
In her eyes were the two Demon Lords, each looking at her with serious expressions.
Her demeanor suggested she was deep in thought.
Although it was unclear what her hesitation meant, it was clear that her choice would likely determine the outcome.
After a moment of silence, Charlemagne finally spoke again in a quiet voice.
“I don’t have anyone specific to recommend. I suggest we cast our votes to make a decision.”
By stepping back and leaving it to the vote, Charlemagne effectively removed herself from the decision-making process.
In the end, the result would be decided by the vote.
The three Demon Lords wrote the names of their chosen candidates on the papers in front of them.
Kesar and Alexander, as expected, wrote the names of the people they had recommended.
Ultimately, the outcome would depend on whom Charlemagne chose.
“Now, I will announce the results.”
The Great Demon King’s secretary took out the box with the ballots and began speaking.
He carefully examined the papers inside and then spoke in a neutral voice.
“One vote for Feglerai.”
“! Tch…?”
“Heh…”
At the start of the announcement, Alexander frowned while Kesar smiled in contrast.
Since there were only three votes, this already made the result nearly certain…
“One vote for Flantsu. One abstention.”
“…Huh?”
The Demon Lords, surprised by the unexpected situation, showed confusion.
And as they looked on, the secretary, with a voice unshaken, added one final piece of information.
“Two votes for Mari.”