Chapter 448: The Demon King’s Palace
"I don’t need reminding of that," Ethan said. "Why the hell else did I come here with my friends?"
At that moment, Ethan noticed Jillia approaching them.
He then shook his head and turned away, choosing to walk off rather than continue the argument.
Nathan sighed, then turned to Jillia with a serious expression on his face.
Jillia soon reached Nathan and bowed her head respectfully. "My lord."
Nathan questioned. "What is it, Jillia?"
"My lord, the Watcher has asked me to inform you that the King has requested your immediate presence."
Nathan’s expression changed slightly, surprise flashing across his face. "Now?"
Jillia nodded in affirmation.
Nathan didn’t ask any further questions. He immediately followed her as they walked back through the compound and away from the quarters.
Not long afterward, Nathan entered his palace room.
The room was spacious, made mostly of wood; which included even pillars and beams supporting the high ceiling. A few pieces of traditional furniture were arranged neatly around the room, while soft lanterns provided a subtle glow across the room.
A demon was already waiting for him.
He wore a long red robe and a tall, pointed cap. His skin was gray, his face grotesque, and two horns protruded from his head above a pair of piercing red eyes.
He bowed his head as Nathan entered.
"Watcher Singon," Nathan said. "Why has the Demon King summoned me?"
The Watcher raised his head. "Lord Krygon, I’m sorry, but you may have to go and answer the King directly. It would be best for you to hear what he has to say yourself."
Nathan studied him with an expressionless look for a moment, then said "Open the portal."
The Watcher bowed his head, extended one hand to the side, and a red portal began forming beside him.
Nathan stepped toward it, with Jillia following behind him as they all entered the portal.
The Watchers were demons stationed throughout the palaces and territories of the ten lords who ruled the ten provinces of the Demon Continent.
They were placed there by the Demon King for the specific purpose of observing the provincial rulers and reporting their activities back to him.
Through them, the Demon King maintained a constant awareness of what was happening within his continent and kept watch over the affairs of its ruling lords.
The portal opened directly in front of a pair of heavily guarded gates. Nathan stepped through, followed by Jillia and the Watcher.
As they approached, the demon guards stationed before the gates stepped aside and opened the way for Nathan who walked through without stopping.
Jillia followed behind him, but as she was about to enter, the guards suddenly crossed their dangerous-looking spears in front of her, blocking the passage.
Jillia made a displeased face and stared at them.
"Only Lord Krygon is permitted beyond this point," the Watcher said from behind her. "You cannot accompany him to the Demon King’s presence."
Jillia stared toward Nathan who didn’t seem to have noticed that she wasn’t following. However, she stepped aside reluctantly and watched.
Not long afterward, the large doors leading into the Demon King’s throne room opened for Nathan to enter.
The throne room was a broad hall of blackened wood, with towering pillars and red lanterns hanging between them. Their dim light reflected across the room’s floor, while curtains that were hanging from the upper beams swayed gently in the air that moved through the chamber.
Nathan was still several meters from the throne when he stopped and lowered himself onto both knees, bowing his head.
An eerie but commanding voice soon echoed through the chamber. "Come forward."
Nathan raised himself and continued walking toward the throne.
As he drew closer, he could see the Demon King seated behind a large veil, on a high raised platform.
The figure of the ruler was visible only as a silhouette through the fabric, its proportions appearing unusually tall beneath the dim red lighting.
Nathan kept his head lowered. "My king, you have summoned me."
The Demon King spoke. " The Watcher has told me that you have brought outsiders into your palace."
His voice carried a strange, layered quality, as though several voices were speaking through the same monstrous presence.
There was a deep, unsettling resonance in every word that made his voice difficult to mistake for that of an ordinary demon.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Nathan replied. "I did."
"And according to my Watcher, you brought these people here because you were interested in the kind of developments they could bring to your province. Is that correct?" He asked.
Nathan hesitated for a moment before answering. "My king, that is what I told the Watcher."
"Hm.." The Demon King muttered. "Izzgur... You do have a way with words."
His voice carried a faint trace of amusement.
"So, what then shall you tell me about these outsiders you have brought here?"
Nathan then answered. "My king, I am fully aware of the risk of lying before you, and so I will tell you the truth... The people I brought are here to help me carry out the goal."
He paused before adding, "Together with these people, we will be going after the Dragon Emperor. And with their help, I believe I may finally have a way to kill him."
The Demon King quickly followed up with a reply. "How long do you intend to keep peddling the same reasons for your actions?"
Nathan’s eyes narrowed slightly. The question had caught him off guard, and for a moment, he looked puzzled. "How so, my king?"
"I allowed you to play your little trick on Krygon and take his place because you told me that rising to the status of a lord was necessary. You said that having the authority, rights, and resources of a lord would give you what you needed to accomplish the goal."
The Demon King’s voice grew heavier.
"And now you have brought outsiders into my continent for that same reason. All this time, you have given me one explanation after another, and still, you have produced no result."
Nathan answered. "My king, you must understand that the one we are up against is the Dragon Emperor. He is no small being. Everything I have done so far has been necessary to prepare for him."
"But I intend to make good on my word. The Dragon Emperor will fall."
"Hmm." The Demon King was silent for a moment. "I see."
He then spoke again. "You will have those outsiders leave this place at once."