Chapter 246

✠ A desolate land where golden sands stretched to the horizon, where strange rock cliffs jutted out like pillars supporting the sky, and a bleeding full moon hung in the night sky like an abstract masterpiece.

The Demon King’s territory of Carpheios, 2nd in the Demon Realm hierarchy, Sanarak [사나락].

Originally, a desert by itself was a region that threatened the survival of living beings.

However, Sanarak’s sea of sand more actively sought to exterminate living beings.

This was because it greedily preyed on living beings, ceaselessly creating quicksand-like whirlpools and parched tidal waves.

The dangerous territory, difficult to even set foot on, had been left untouched for a long time.

However, recently, a structure was rapidly rising.

A massive pyramid-shaped tower built by stacking dark brown stone blocks.

It resembled a recreation of the presumptuous structure said to have been built in the scriptures to challenge God.

The name of this pyramid tower was ‘Tomb of Chaos Gods [혼돈 신릉]’. Naturally, it was a structure destined to be consecrated to the Chaos Evil God.

A significant workforce was invested in the large-scale civil engineering work.

Not only Carpheios’s countless demonic kin, but also human slaves bought from Jibrilte’s [지브릴테] dark auction house were mobilized.

Carpheios also had to bear considerable losses.

However, this construction was personally entrusted to Carpheios by the ‘Newly Born Chaos Evil’.

It was only right to undertake it gladly by investing all resources.

On the highest strange rock cliff in Sanarak, overlooking the construction site of the Tomb of Chaos Gods, there was a being resting on a rough stone throne.

He was an arrogant, handsome young man with golden hair that turned fiery red towards the ends.

He listened to a demon’s report with his chin propped up and eyes closed.

“……Thus, the internal construction is almost complete. The underground floors are desired to be labyrinthine, so that will take a bit more time, but the above-ground floors are already finished up to the top. If Lord Carpheios wishes, you can move in right now.”

“……”

“At first, living in the Tomb of Chaos Gods might feel a little stifling. We proceeded with a bold design that eliminated windows to block out sandstorms. Still, we incorporated many demons into the ventilation system, so comfortable living should be possible. Oh, and Lord Carpheios’s treasures have also been moved to a state-of-the-art vault [수장고] with temperature and humidity control functions, so they won’t be left in caves anymore. You will surely like them.”

“……”

“The Demon King’s audience chamber has been placed on the top floor, following ancient tradition. While not as grand as this strange rock cliff, it guarantees considerable views and moonlight [월조]. If you grant permission, we would like to move the stone throne you are currently sitting on there, but……”

“……”

The assistant demon, reporting on the construction site, subtly drew out his words, waiting for a reply.

Then, the young man with gold and red two-tone hair opened his eyes.

“Hick!”

The moment his vivid red eyes were revealed, the surrounding air changed.

The oppressive aura made the assistant demon’s legs tremble.

Soon, the young man, Carpheios, spoke. His deep voice flowed out lowly.

“I dozed off for a bit.”

“……Oh, oh, n-nap, hiccup! Were, were you, hiccup! In the middle of it?!”

The assistant demon regretted internally for waking him up.

Carpheios’s face showed no refreshment after waking from his nap.

Instead, thick, deep wrinkles were etched between his brows.

It was evident that his liege was currently very displeased.

Carpheios was a Demon King famous for casually beheading his subordinates.

It seemed he was about to die, but hoping for a miracle, he decided to try to appease him.

“I-is there a-anywhere you’re uncomfortable, my lord……?”

“I had a dream.”

“I-is that so, your Majesty? Your Majesty’s dream must surely be an auspicious omen!”

“Oh, really? Then why don’t you interpret it?”

“……”

The assistant blamed his own reckless mouth.

He had no right to refuse, so he swallowed a sob and nodded vigorously.

“My pet, who crossed the rainbow bridge a long time ago, appeared.”

“Your pet, you say…… are you perhaps referring to Obsculia [옵스큘리아], for whom you personally made slime baby food?”

“Yes, how cute and charming it was, wriggling like a worm and making ‘wooo-wooo’ sounds. Even in my dream, it rushed at me in its lovely form from back then, then swallowed and chewed my head.”

“T-that must have been very lovely.”

“Indeed. If the Evil’s Bane Executor hadn’t annihilated it, I would have summoned it back……”

The public enemy of the Demon Realm, the Evil’s Bane Executor. As she was mentioned, a murderous aura emanated from Carpheios’s entire body.

The assistant demon, keenly sensing the danger to his life, shouted.

“Lo-Lord Carpheios! I know! What the dream you had during your nap means!”

“……Oh, really? Tell me.”

His lifespan was extended a little.

“I-it seems like a sign that Lord Carpheios will soon have a new pet!”

“Hmph?”

Carpheios narrowed his eyes and hummed.

The assistant demon hiccuped, thinking his wild guess wouldn’t work after all.

But Carpheios seemed to be listening quite seriously, unexpectedly.

“Is that so? I haven’t found a pet that pleases me since Obsculia.”

“T-then how about a pet plant?”

“Plant?”

Carpheios pondered for a moment, touching his smooth jaw, then replied.

“A plant is good. If it’s a black-purple Deadly Bloom, then yes.”

“……”

“But does such a thing even exist? I’ve never seen one with my own eyes.”

“……Hiccup.”

The demonic energy beginning to emanate again indicated that Carpheios was displeased.

It was understandable.

Given the mention of a black-purple Deadly Bloom, Carpheios’s thoughts inevitably led to Count Rodrigo Orsu, the owner of the ‘Toy Mansion’ [장난감 저택].

‘That insolent brat found a black-purple Deadly Bloom and didn’t immediately present it to me.’

He even contemplated to which of the Three Demon Kings he should offer it.

“How dare……”

Whoosh!

The raging demonic energy created a powerful updraft centered on Carpheios.

His red-tipped golden hair flipped upwards, and both his eyes turned completely blood-red, including the whites.

“H-hic……!”

Carpheios, engulfed in extreme rage, needed a target for his fury.

“Unforgivable!”

So, just as he was about to behead the assistant standing before him.

<Carpheios, as barbaric as a beast, as always.>

Someone’s voice intruded upon the peak of the strange rock cliff.

“Inferinos?”

What carried the irreverent voice was the ‘Mirror of Hyper-spatial Surveillance’ [초공간 감시의 거울].

This was an item that Anaksia [아낙시아] had gifted to the Three Demon Kings previously, telling them to watch her Demon King debut.

Inferinos seemed to have cleverly used it, something that had been stuck in a corner of the audience chamber, to contact him.

The two Demon Kings were not particularly cordial, usually communicating rarely.

What could be the matter with the master of the underground judgment site, appearing so suddenly?

Anger evaporated from Carpheios’s head, and questions took its place.

Carpheios sat back on his stone throne and crossed his legs.

“What do you want, master of the underground judgment site?”

<What do you think?>

“If it’s just some trivial dispute, get lost.”