Chapter 111: The Little King of the Marauders...
Yuri and Nox slowly walked between the bodies of the defeated Marauders.
Some were still rolling across the ground.
Others desperately tried to extinguish the dark flames crawling across their wounds.
Ashbringer’s shots still left them dizzy.
Nox sighed.
"I told you I didn’t want to fight."
No one answered.
Mostly because the majority were still screaming in pain.
Yuri watched the scene with a hint of admiration.
"I didn’t think you could defeat so many all by yourself."
Nox slung the rifle over his back.
"Honestly..."
He looked around.
"...I didn’t expect them to be so determined to fight either."
The woman smiled.
"That means you’re strong."
Nox shrugged.
"I guess you could say that."
"Though they weren’t all that impressive."
Yuri stepped a little closer.
"Don’t wander too far away from me."
the demon said as they continued walking.
"These guys might still try something."
The swamp woman opened her eyes wide.
Then she broke into a huge smile.
"Are you worried about me?"
It took Nox a second to understand what she meant.
"...What?"
The woman immediately grabbed the demon’s hand.
"I want to stay close to you too."
Nox looked at his own hand.
Then at Yuri’s muddy hand.
Then back at her.
"...I think you completely misunderstood me."
"I’m sure I understood perfectly."
she replied with absolute conviction.
Nox decided to give up.
’I’m not winning this argument.’
They continued walking.
◇◆◇
A few meters later, they reached the edge of the enormous drop that split the cave in two.
Nox looked down.
Thousands of crystals embedded in the walls illuminated the cavern with a faint blue, green, and violet glow.
The sight was beautiful.
At different elevations, dozens of cave entrances could be seen.
Small caverns, all connected to one another.
And inside every single one...
More black eyes watched them.
None of them attacked.
Nox smiled.
’Looks like they finally learned their lesson.’
At the center of the immense cavern stood a structure unlike any of the others.
It wasn’t a cave.
It looked more like an improvised temple.
Large stacked stones.
Hardened mud.
Tree trunks.
All arranged into a circular building.
Nox pointed downward.
"Something tells me that’s where the king lives."
Yuri nodded.
"I’d say so."
Then she slowly drew one of her bone knives.
"Let’s go."
Nox raised an eyebrow.
"What are you doing?"
"We have to deal with him."
She crouched slightly.
"Now!"
She was just about to leap into the abyss.
But a hand grabbed her arm.
Yuri turned around in surprise.
"...Huh?"
Nox shook his head.
"No."
The woman frowned.
"What?"
"We’re not going to kill him."
"Why?"
"Because I still want to talk."
Yuri looked completely unable to understand that decision.
"But..."
"We’ll only fight if he chooses to."
The woman sighed.
"...Alright."
Though she was clearly unconvinced.
◇◆◇
The two of them descended by using the uneven rock wall.
Jumping from one ledge to another until they landed in front of the enormous structure.
Silence reigned.
Nox stepped forward and gently knocked on one of the stones.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
"No one’s answering..."
he muttered.
Then...
A voice came from inside.
A high-pitched voice.
And a rather annoyed one.
"Who the hell is making all that noise?"
Nox blinked.
"...What?"
The voice rang out again.
"I’M TRYING TO TAKE A NAP!"
Even Yuri looked confused.
"That voice..."
Then a small figure walked out from inside.
It was rubbing its eyes while yawning.
It was...
Ridiculously small and adorable.
It didn’t even reach Nox’s waist.
It looked exactly like the other Marauders.
Mud-colored skin.
Black eyes.
Scales.
But it also wore a tiny crown made of bones.
And a cloak fashioned from dark feathers.
The creature yawned once more.
Then looked up at Nox.
It stood perfectly still for several seconds.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Finally, it spoke.
"Who let this ugly thing in here?"
Nox was completely caught off guard.
Then he burst out laughing.
"You’re the king?"
The creature crossed its arms.
"Yes."
"I thought you’d be more..."
He searched for the right word.
"...imposing."
The little Marauder narrowed his eyes.
"And who are you?"
"Nox."
"What are you?"
"The Demon Lord."
"You’re ugly."
Nox laughed again.
"Thanks."
◇◆◇
The little king looked toward the path Nox had taken.
Then he noticed the mountain of defeated Marauders.
His eyes slowly widened.
"..."
"..."
"..."
He turned back toward Nox.
"Was that your doing?"
The demon scratched the back of his neck.
"You could say that."
The king remained silent.
Nox raised both hands.
"But they started it."
He pointed at the bodies.
"I only came here to talk."
The little Marauder let out a snort.
"Talk?"
"Yes."
"Here?"
"Yes."
"With us?"
"Yes."
The king rolled his eyes.
"What exactly were you expecting when you walked into Marauder territory?"
Nox smiled.
"I was expecting a conversation."
"And to form an alliance."
"Then it should’ve been obvious you’d end up in a fight."
"It wasn’t that bad."
Yuri felt a chill run down her spine.
"...Lord Demon."
"What?"
"You shouldn’t have said that."
"Why?"
The small creature slowly lowered its head.
Its hands began to tremble.
"It wasn’t..."
Its voice sounded different now.
"...that bad?"
Nox was still smiling.
"No."
Yuri quickly took several steps backward.
"Nox..."
The demon finally noticed something.
The mud around the little king had begun to tremble.
The stones were vibrating as well.
The crystals glowed brighter and brighter.
The air grew heavy.
The little Marauder slowly raised his head.
His expression had completely changed.
"I don’t like it..."
he muttered.
"...when people make fun of my own."
His body began to grow.
His arms lengthened.
His muscles swelled.
His legs shattered part of the stone floor.
Mud fell away from his body like old skin peeling off.
The tiny crown crumbled into dust.
In just a few seconds...
The creature had already grown taller than any other Marauder.
And it was still growing.
Nox slowly lifted his gaze.
"...Now we’re talking."
The monster’s shoulders nearly reached the ceiling of the cavern.
Its muscles looked as though they had been carved from stone.
Its black eyes burned with fury.
An overwhelming pressure filled the entire cave.
Yuri swallowed hard.
"I told you..."
She gripped her knife tightly.
"...this is where the real fight begins."
Nox smiled.
This time with genuine excitement.
"Much better."
He spun one of his Demonic Dual Knives.
"Now you actually look like a king."