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Chapter 82
“Sir!”
Clank—
Deep beneath the prison where Saint Devotio had been confined.
After finishing off Longus with Ventus, Leona immediately went in search of Malefica and the fallen Eric.
“Sir, are you all right? Your blood—there’s so much—!”
Spotting Eric drenched in blood in a corner, she quickly left the cardinal and Lillian—whom she had carried down on her shoulders—to Ventus, then ran toward him.
“I’m fine. It’s not my blood. More importantly—Lillian and the Cardinal?”
“They’re both safe.”
Eric smiled reassuringly at her, as if to tell her not to worry, then glanced over at the two lying safely near the door and nodded.
‘That’s…’
While Eric and Leona briefly exchanged words,
Ventus narrowed his eyes toward a gruesome sight—Magnus, his entrails spilling out, lying lifeless on the ground.
‘Judging from the body, he didn’t just die from the fall. Could it be… the young master and the priest actually took down a Named monster together?’
The corpse’s torso was riddled with large holes—each one nearly identical to the ones that had pierced Longus’s arm.
Ventus stared at Eric, bewildered.
‘How in the world…? Wasn’t the so-called hero of the Church just a useless brat from the North?’
If it had been ordinary lesser monsters outside the fortress, maybe he could’ve believed it.
But this was a Named.
A massive beast strong enough to tear through iron bars and crack solid stone floors—something even most heroes dared not face.
And yet a supposed “useless man,” even with a priest’s aid, had slain it?
“Sir, perhaps we should—”
“Mm. The Cardinal’s safe, so it’s time we got out of here.”
Ventus, regaining focus at Eric’s words, lifted the two unconscious figures he had laid beside him.
“Then let’s—”
“Hohoho…”
Just as they began to leave the cell, a sinister laugh echoed down the corridor near the stairway.
A suffocating, ominous presence spread through the air.
“My, my… how very rude of our guests.”
A small, hunched old monkey, covered head to toe in thick fur, slowly approached, leaning on a crooked staff.
“After causing such a mess—where do you think you’re going?”
From beyond the border, one of the Twelve Demon Kings who ruled over legions of monsters—
just like the Simian King.
“…The Demon Monkey King.”
The Demon Monkey King — Baphelus
Level: 73
Strength: [30]
Agility: [250]
Stamina: [150]
Magic: [310]
Traits: Demon Monkey King, Taoist Arts, Cunning, Iron Fur
“Longus and Magnus… I expected someone might try a rescue, but I thought those two would be enough. Who would’ve guessed that just five people could take them both down?”
The old monkey glanced around the ruined prison, then let out an amused hum as he noticed Magnus’s corpse and Longus’s arm dangling from the ceiling hole.
“Incredible. And one of them is…”
His gaze finally stopped on Eric.
“Hoho! The so-called ‘useless hero’ who drags along a knight and the Goddess’s dog! So it’s you—that hero I’ve heard so much about?”
Unlike other humans, Eric gave off no stench of corruption—something that made the old monkey squint curiously.
But when his gaze shifted to Malefica and Leona beside him, his eyes widened.
“I’d heard the Church’s new hero was interfering with our plans across the continent, but I didn’t expect to meet you here in the East.”
Quickly realizing who Eric was, the Demon King frowned slightly as a thought struck him.
Wasn’t the Simian King supposed to be drawing the enemy’s attention up north with his army?
How could a hero from the north have made it to the eastern front this quickly?
“Impressive. Hard to believe you’re supposed to be powerless… truly remarkable.”
But his curiosity soon turned to greed.
Gazing back and forth between blood-soaked Eric and Magnus’s corpse, his lips curled into a sinister smile.
“…I want you.”
“Sir!”
“Urgh—!”
The moment his hand extended, Eric’s body was lifted off the ground, drawn helplessly into the Demon King’s grasp.
Leona tried to pull him back, but the young man was already clutched tightly in the old monkey’s hand.
“Hm… fascinating.”
The Demon King studied him, his ominous eyes gleaming without pupils.
“This power… Are you truly human?”
Inside Eric surged a strange, immense energy—something disturbingly similar to the innate power that Named monsters possessed.
Baphelus tilted his head, clearly intrigued.
“Release him, now—!”
“Silence.”
Annoyed, he swiped a hand through the air as if brushing away a fly.
Rumble—
CRACK—!
“Ghk—!”
Thud—!
“Lady Leona!”
A massive chunk of rock had shot from the floor, slamming into Leona’s chest mid-charge and throwing her violently backward.
Malefica gasped and rushed to her side.
‘This is bad. The battle dragged on longer than expected, so I knew reinforcements might come—but a Demon King himself…?!’
His power was overwhelming—despairingly so.
Ventus, watching the scene with grim determination, reached into his tunic and pulled out a small pouch—the same one he’d used against Longus earlier.
Whoosh—
Fwoosh—
He hurled the pouch at Baphelus, scattering a cloud of sharp spices and powders over him and Eric.
“Everyone, now’s our chance—run—!”
“Foolish.”
SHWIP—!
THUD—!
“Ugh!”
Just as Ventus tried to lead the others to safety, something struck his chest hard, sending him collapsing to the ground.
“Well then… now that the interruptions are over, we can talk.”
Cough, cough—!
Baphelus waved his hand twice, effortlessly subduing everyone. Then, grinning, he looked down at Eric.
“Boy, won’t you join me? With your potential, you could become far stronger—greater than the heroes of old, greater than the champions of the Great War!”
Cough! Huff…
Still coughing from the powder, Eric glared up at him.
“First that damned rat, now you… What is it with you Demon Kings always begging me to ‘join you’? You think I’m coated in honey or something?”
The idea of accepting a Demon King’s power—utterly ridiculous.
He was supposed to protect humanity, not side with monsters!
“Join you? Hah! Here’s my answer—”
He spat directly in the Demon King’s face.
“—you decrepit old monkey!”
Eric flipped him off for good measure.
“Hoho… I see.”
Baphelus calmly wiped the spit off his fur.
“What a shame.”
If he would not submit—then he could not be allowed to live.
Whoosh—
SWOOSH—
“…Hm?”
CRASH—!
Just as glowing energy gathered at the Demon King’s fingertips and the ground beneath Eric began to quake—
a blast of wind sliced through the air, hurling Baphelus into the wall.
“I was wondering where you’d run off to mid-battle… So this is where you were.”
A familiar face appeared—one Eric had met at the fortress days ago.
The ruler of the East—Duke Chryseus.
Step— step—
“…Persistent old beast.”
From the dust, the Demon Monkey King reemerged, glaring at the Duke.
Eric exhaled shakily, relief washing over him. Reinforcements had arrived.
“Hero, are you all right?”
Before he could answer, another familiar voice cut in. Eric turned and groaned faintly.
Cough, cough! “No, I’m dying.”
“You seem fine enough to joke. Good.”
The newcomer smiled—Virga, Captain of the 1st Shadow Knights.
“Get the hero and the cardinal to safety—now!”
Supported by Virga, Eric staggered to his feet and was handed over to the knights who had come for him.
“…Will you be all right?”
“We’ll manage. That’s why the entire Shadow Order came east. And besides—Duke Chryseus himself is here.”
Eric looked back, worry crossing his face.
Even with their combined strength, they were facing a Demon King. It wouldn’t be easy.
“Where do you think you’re going!”
BOOM—!
Just as they turned to leave, a sharp roar echoed through the dust.
A massive stone spear hurtled toward Eric’s head.
“Damn—”
CLANG—!
The rock veered aside at the last second, deflected by a sword strike.
“Lady Leona!”
“Forgive me, sir… I should’ve protected you till the end. I failed…”
Panting, her hands bleeding from the impact, Leona stood between Eric and the Demon King.
“No, you did fine. The enemy’s beyond any of us. Just get stronger—and next time, protect me again.”
Seeing her hands torn and dripping with blood, Eric shook his head gently.
“What are you all doing?! Move! Get the hero and his party out!”
As the knights regained their senses, they quickly supported Eric and the others, guiding them toward the exit.
And so, barely—
they escaped the fortress alive.
