Chapter 114: All Hail the Demon Lord, Nox...
The massive stone-and-mud structure at the center of the crater was far more comfortable inside than Nox had imagined.
The walls were covered with thick hides from all kinds of creatures.
Huge bones supported the ceiling like pillars.
The floor had been covered with a mixture of hardened mud and dried hides that served as rugs.
It wasn’t elegant.
But it was surprisingly warm.
Nox sat on a carved stone that served as a chair.
Across from him sat Yuri.
The woman was still completely naked, covered only by a thin layer of mud that had already begun to dry on her skin.
Off to one side, lounging comfortably on an enormous throne made of stone, bones, and hides...
Sat the little King of the Marauders.
The tiny creature swung one leg back and forth while listening to the Demon Lord, his arms folded behind his head.
Nox took a deep breath.
"...In short."
He pointed toward the ceiling.
"The Gods abandoned these lands a very long time ago."
The little King remained silent.
"The rest of the world believes Mireveil doesn’t exist and that it’s nothing but uninhabited swamps."
Nox continued.
"And that’s exactly why I want to turn it into the heart of my empire."
Yuri listened attentively.
Nox kept speaking.
"My goal isn’t just to conquer this swamp."
He raised one finger.
"I want to conquer all of Relictia."
The little King opened one eye slightly.
"All of Relictia?"
"The entire world."
Nox answered without hesitation.
"But before I can do that, I need something first."
The little creature yawned.
"What?"
"To unite Mireveil."
The King stopped yawning.
Nox pointed toward the forest.
"The Peques."
Then he pointed at Yuri.
"The swamp humans."
Finally, he pointed back at the little King.
"And you."
He remained silent for a few seconds.
"All of you working together."
Yuri nodded immediately.
"Rollo already agreed."
The woman smiled.
"He promised that if you accepted this alliance..."
She looked at the little King.
"...the hunters would stop pursuing the Marauders."
The little creature remained completely still.
He looked genuinely thoughtful.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Finally, he sighed.
"I still can’t believe it."
Nox raised an eyebrow.
"Believe what?"
"That you defeated me."
The little King looked down at his own hands.
"In my own territory."
He raised his gaze.
"In front of all my people."
He slowly shook his head.
"I’m still having a hard time accepting it."
Nox smiled.
"Sometimes losing is the best way to learn."
The little King let out a quiet chuckle.
"That’s what the winners always say."
Nox didn’t answer.
Then the King spoke again.
"Fine."
Yuri’s eyes widened.
"Huh?"
The little creature sat up on his throne.
"I accept the alliance and everything else."
Nox smiled.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
The King crossed his arms.
"My people will become part of your empire."
Yuri still looked completely stunned.
"Just like that?"
She looked at the little King.
"I thought you’d refuse."
Nox chuckled softly.
"It was pretty obvious he was going to accept."
Yuri immediately turned toward him.
"Obvious?"
The little King answered before Nox could.
"Of course it’s obvious."
He rested one elbow on the throne’s armrest.
"This Demon Lord could’ve killed me."
He pointed toward the cave entrance.
"He could’ve wiped out my entire race."
Then he looked back at Nox.
"But he didn’t."
His voice became completely serious.
"If he truly wants to protect these lands..."
He paused.
"...then there’s only one way for my people to survive."
He slowly climbed down from his throne.
"Accept this alliance."
Then he shrugged.
"It’s simple survival instinct."
Yuri remained silent.
The explanation made too much sense to argue against.
Nox smiled with satisfaction.
"I’m glad you’re reasonable."
The little King laughed.
"Don’t mistake reasonable for cowardly."
"I never would."
Nox stood up.
"And to prove that I’m someone you can trust and that I have no intention of betraying this agreement..."
He looked toward the cave entrance.
"...I’m going to heal every Marauder I injured."
The little King’s eyes widened.
"You’d do that?"
"Of course."
"Why?"
Nox shrugged.
"Because I want this alliance to begin with trust."
The little creature stared at him for several long seconds.
Finally, he slowly nodded.
"Then..."
He reached beneath his throne, rummaged between several stones, and pulled out a gemstone the size of a fist.
It was completely transparent.
Yet within it seemed to shimmer every color imaginable.
The stone emitted a soft glow of its own.
The little King held it out to Nox.
"Take it."
The demon accepted it in surprise.
"What is this?"
"A gift."
"To seal our alliance."
The creature smiled.
"It’s a Luminous Stone."
Nox examined the gem.
"It’s beautiful."
"It grows inside these caves."
The King explained.
"When the darkness becomes absolute..."
The stone shone even brighter.
"...it will always light the way."
Nox smiled.
"Thank you very much."
He carefully placed the gemstone inside his coat.
"I’ll put it to good use."
◇◆◇
A short while later...
The little King stepped out of his structure.
Nox and Yuri followed him.
Hundreds of Marauders were still watching from the countless caves scattered throughout the enormous crater.
Every one of them remained silent.
Waiting.
The little King took a deep breath and raised both arms.
"Listen!"
His voice echoed throughout the cavern.
Every Marauder immediately turned toward him.
"From this day forward..."
He paused briefly.
"...hunting humans is forbidden."
Several creatures began murmuring.
"Hunting Peques is also forbidden."
The murmurs grew louder.
The little King pointed directly at Nox.
"Because starting today..."
His voice rang with authority.
"...we have formed an alliance with the Demon Lord."
The Marauders looked at the demon.
Then at their King.
Many doubted he was serious.
"The war is over."
The little creature continued.
"This man spared our lives."
He pointed toward Nox again.
"And he has promised to protect Mireveil."
Some Marauders looked visibly confused.
Others remained suspicious.
Several simply watched without understanding.
The little King stomped his foot against the ground.
"So from this day onward..."
"...he will be our new lord!"
A few seconds of absolute silence followed.
Then he took a deep breath and raised both hands.
"All hail Demon Lord Nox!"
One Marauder struck the ground with his claws.
THUMP.
Then another.
THUMP.
Then another.
THUMP.
Within seconds, the entire cave was trembling.
THUMP.
THUMP.
THUMP.
Then hundreds of impacts echoed together.
The Marauders began raising their voices.
"All hail the Demon Lord!"
Another group answered.
"All hail the Demon Lord!"
Louder and louder.
"ALL HAIL THE DEMON LORD!"
The cave walls trembled.
The sound was deafening.
Yuri watched the scene in complete fascination.
Nox, on the other hand...
Could only scratch the back of his head.
"...I think they’re overdoing it a little."
The little King burst into laughter.
"Get used to it."
He patted Nox on the leg.
"You’re the Lord of Mireveil now."
Nox looked at the countless creatures bowing before him.
Then he remembered the Peques.
He remembered Yuri’s village.
And finally, he smiled.
There was still a long road ahead.
He still had to face Heroes, Saints, and Gods.
But now...
It seemed that the entire swamp was beginning to move beneath a single banner.
His.