Chapter 135

Peter entered the colossal arena.

Cracking his neck as he did.

He couldn’t count how many times his ideology had been scrutinized the night before.

Was he a spy sent from Elsland, or perhaps a spy sent by the Reincarnator?

He was checked and interrogated several times.

To be honest, Peter thought he might get caught.

But he wasn’t.

-This man is a Demon. Considering what he did in his human days, he was bound to become a Demon eventually.

That was the interrogator’s conclusion.

He was acknowledged as a complete Demon.

For some reason, it seemed that not even the Demons had noticed the Buff Choi Gi-woong had given him.

In one section of the audience seats.

Well over a hundred thousand Demons were screaming and cheering like berserkers.

Overwhelmed by the sheer force of their presence, Peter glanced to his side. Ruiche was no different.

She was staring at the Demons, her face pale.

Because if Peter died here today, he would be brutally torn to shreds in front of all these Demons.

“It looks like they’ve summoned every single Demon in the Demon Realm.”

“…That can’t be. Only the most select Warriors can attend this glorious event.”

“How does it feel to be a glorious Demon?”

“The thought of dying in front of this huge crowd makes me want to collapse. Damn it. I never imagined my life would end like this.”

Ruiche swallowed hard.

“Even the Reincarnator would probably be scared stiff if he were here.”

“…I don’t know. I can’t agree with that.”

Peter smirked.

If Choi Gi-woong were here, Peter thought, he would be the kind of man to be contemplating how to kill the maximum number of Demons possible.

Peter looked back at the arena.

Horned beasts and Demons he had never seen or heard of were pouring out one after another.

The auras they all exuded were far stronger than Peter’s.

“Don’t tell me I’m scheduled to fight those things?”

“Of course not. Those are the Demons participating in the 3rd Demon King’s Succession Battle.”

“So they’re my superiors.”

“You say that as if you’ve already become the 7th Demon King.”

“Well.”

According to Choi Gi-woong, there shouldn’t be a problem.

He might doubt anyone else, but if Choi Gi-woong said the moon was the sun, he would have to wonder.

He had no worries on that front.

“See that guy?”

Ruiche gestured with her chin. Peter looked over.

A Demon stood aloofly with his hands in his pockets.

“He’s the head of House Verno.”

“So that’s the bastard who destroyed your family. He doesn’t look like much.”

To Peter, the giant, poison-fuming lizard looked more dangerous.

“He looks like the weakest one among them.”

“He’s going to become the 3rd Demon King.”

“Is he that strong?”

“Even if Modres hadn’t died, he would have had to face that man’s challenge.”

“Then what do you think the outcome would have been?”

“There wouldn’t have been a fight.”

“?”

“Modres would have given up his position first.”

“…He’s that powerful?”

“He just hasn’t stepped into the spotlight until now. He’s the head of the house that even Chaos is paying the most attention to.”

It was then. The roar of the crowd grew even louder.

“We will now hold the Succession Battle for the 3rd Demon King, who will succeed Modres. Glorious Warriors, prepare yourselves.”

“The Demon God is Great!”

Just as Ruiche flinched once more at the heat radiating from the unified voices of over a hundred thousand Demons.

The Demon King War to decide the 3rd in rank began.

And.

Fwoooosh-!

An overwhelming Demonic Energy was felt.

Drrrrrr-!

As goosebumps rose on both of Peter’s arms, he witnessed a shocking scene.

The Warriors who had stepped forward as candidates were on their knees. And in their midst stood Lunan Verno.

He realized it only a moment later.

Their bodies had been forced to move by the Demonic Energy Verno had spread.

Verno, still with both hands in his pockets, quietly opened his mouth.

“Will you submit to me, or will you all die here and now? Candidates, choose.”

The match was over anticlimactically fast. They couldn’t even try anything.

And the Warriors’ choice was swift.

“The Demon God is Great. I, Doom Dezar, pledge my loyalty to Lord Verno.”

“The Demon God is Great! I, Shin Ior, will submit to Lord Verno!”

“The Demon God is Great! I, Rowem, will submit to Lord Verno!”

One by one, they bowed their heads before Verno.

When at last all nine candidates had sworn their Oath to Verno.

Waaaaaaaaah-!

A roar once again erupted in the arena.

The fact that they had accepted defeat without a fight only made the fervor even more intense.

It was a testament to how overwhelming he was.

For the Demon army, whose morale had recently dropped because of the Reincarnator, there could be no greater event than this.

Among them, the only ones not excited were Peter and Ruiche.

“…Did you see that? You said it yesterday. That you could kill him.”

“I never said I would kill him.”

“Ah, so you’re backing out now because you’re scared?”

“Are you, in turn, finally starting to believe that I’ll become a Demon King?”

“…Of course not. I was just trying to see what your mindset was.”

“Can we go now?”

“Yeah. Phew.”

Ruiche let out a deep sigh.

“Even if I die, I won’t blame you.”

“Of course you shouldn’t. If anything, I should be the one blaming you.”

“What?”

An incredulous laugh escaped Ruiche’s lips.

She had no idea why, but somehow, she found Peter dependable.

“What’s with the confidence? It’s about time you told me. Just how did a moron who couldn’t even conjure a flame from his fingertips… end up like this.”

“You must be starting to realize it too, aren’t you? Why I became a Demon.”

“…What?”

“Don’t forget what you said to me. That you’d pledge your loyalty if I just got rid of your enemy, Chaos or whoever.”

Peter muttered meaningfully.

“However, the object of that loyalty will not be me.”

With those words, Peter launched himself forward.

“We will now hold the Succession Battle for the 7th Demon King, who will succeed Entesto. Glorious Warriors, prepare yourselves.”

The reaction was different from before.

As Peter appeared, the Demons’ cheers died down abruptly. Instead, a chorus of boos filled with confusion rained down on Peter.

“Traitor!”

“Die!”

“This is not your place, human!”

All sorts of vulgar curses flew at him.

It was because he was of human origin, and not just any human, but a former Priest of their arch-enemy, Lu.

Peter was used to this kind of situation. He shrugged his shoulders, even egging on the boos.

Then he looked at his opponent.

He was alone. The Demon he had seen yesterday.

The eldest son of the head of House Verno, was it? Meaning, he was the son of the guy who had just forced everyone to their knees.

Peter closed his eyes.

And he thought of Choi Gi-woong. What would that crazy Reincarnator do in this situation?

The memories of being dragged around and beaten up came flooding back.

Choi Gi-woong, that bastard would probably have done this.

Peter opened his eyes and spoke.

“I’m Peter. What’s your name?”

“I have no name to give to a half-breed.”

“Then let me ask one more thing. If I kill you here, will your dad kill me?”

The man looked Peter up and down, displeased.

“Do not insult a Warrior’s honor.”

“Right. As long as that’s confirmed. Let’s begin.”

Peter drew up his Demonic Energy.

The Buff that Choi Gi-woong had secretly planted was still coursing through his body.

As long as the Buff was active, he would not die. Of that much, he was certain.

Furthermore.

Fwoooosh-!

Wasn’t his opponent completely unable to react to the Demonic Energy Peter was now drawing up?

Drrrrrr-!

Peter walked forward. The man opposite him also strode forward.

The battle began just like that. And it ended anticlimactically.

Lightly dodging the man’s wild sword swing, Peter seized him by the throat.

“Keoruk!”

The man stared with shocked eyes. The Demons in the arena, who had been cheering for Verno just moments ago, also fell dead silent.

Peter was surprised as well.

He had expected to win, but he had never in his wildest dreams thought Choi Gi-woong’s Buff would be this potent.

Peter looked at the man. His bloodshot eyes were begging for his life.

“Keok, keok!”

It was then.

“Let him go.”

It was a voice from above. He looked up and saw the man’s father.

Lunan Verno, now one of the top three in the Demon Realm’s hierarchy.

“In return, House Verno will grant you one wish.”

Peter looked forward again. The son was croaking out words with a voice that couldn’t form, his vocal cords straining.

He would pledge loyalty, he would submit. Just a moment ago, he wouldn’t even give his name.

All sorts of sweet words were pouring out.

Wondering what to do, he glanced at Ruiche in the stands.

Amidst the confusion, she was pleading desperately.

Kill him. Begin the revenge.

Peter closed his eyes once more. He thought of Choi Gi-woong. What would that crazy bastard have done in this situation? The answer came quickly.

Peter opened his eyes and tightened his grip.

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear your name.”

Kwa-deu-deuk-!

Just like that, the man’s neck was snapped. Verno’s nameless son died on the spot.

An endless silence followed.

The Demon who was moderating was no exception. No one had expected the match to end so futilely.

Lunan Verno stared intently at Peter.

The stammering Demon swallowed hard and shouted.

“The Demon God is Great! Glory to the 7th Demon King, Peter Gruno!”

“The Demon God is Great!”

“The Demon God is Great!”

Simultaneously, a roar erupted.

Peter closed his eyes and savored the cheers.

He didn’t know how his life had drifted to this point.

What did they say would happen if he became a Demon King?

That he would be able to rule over ten million Monsters and three million Demons.

It was a fate he had never even dreamed of.

In any case, it was a ‘come what may’ situation now.

Did they know?

That he would offer all the information in the Demon Realm to Choi Gi-woong, and in the end, betray them.

When he opened his eyes, Ruiche was coming toward him.

Tears were welling up in her large, gentle eyes.

Peter fixed his expression and said.

“Ruiche. I will completely annihilate House Verno. Will you follow me?”

Ruiche’s body trembled.

Her hesitation was brief.

“I pledge my loyalty.”

-The one you will be loyal to is not me. It is the Reincarnator.

At Peter’s telepathic message, Ruiche bowed her head.

By the time the endlessly continuing cheers had subsided.

“Peter Gruno.”

A somber voice spread out.

It was Gor, the 2nd Demon King. Sitting in the most honored seat, he stroked his beard and spoke.

“Tell us the dimension where the Reincarnator is.”

It was filled with the intent to kill him if he didn’t speak right now. This was part of their original agreement, after all.

“Earth, it is.”

And Peter said it nonchalantly.

“If the Reincarnator is not there, I will kill you.”

“Do as you wish.”

Simultaneously, Ruiche stared at Peter with eyes as wide as saucers.

Her gaze was filled with the meaning, ‘Are you out of your mind?’

But Peter’s expression remained nonchalant.

The next moment, Gor waved his hand.

He intended to send the entire army to Earth right away.

No matter how strong the Reincarnator was, he wouldn’t be able to withstand an army of over a hundred thousand.

Just as Gor was drawing up his Demonic Energy.

He tilted his head.

Pssssk-

Space split vertically, then was cut off. The magic had been canceled.

Frowning, he waved his hand once more. But the result was the same.

“Why…”

The Dimensional Travel wasn’t working.