"...Balk Wen Danian."
I call out the name of my opponent.
I have no memory of the demon in front of me.
It is merely being controlled.
That man—Balk—is speaking through its body.
It was one of his typical methods.
Balk shrugs his shoulders and laughs.
The head emits a strange sound, tilting at an unnatural angle.
"What's wrong? You look as though you've seen a corpse. I thought you'd be happier to see me again."
Balk speaks in a cheerful tone.
The familiar manner was nothing more than a facade.
Beneath it lurked a sinister hatred.
Of course. I had killed him.
His grudge apparently still wasn't settled.
Even though it was a conversation through another's body, I could feel it vividly.
"I should have killed you. Why are you alive?"
"Even a novice practitioner like you should understand. There are exceptions to everything. Your own form is proof of that, is it not?"
"..."
Balk's words leave me silent.
He had deftly deflected my question.
He apparently has no intention of revealing the truth here.
Knowing him, he must be putting on a deliberate air of mystery.
There’s no deeper meaning or hidden intent.
He’s simply enjoying the sight of my distress.
I know Balk’s personality all too well.
"I hear the rumors, though. You’re calling yourself the Demon King? My, my, what a deliciously ironic tale."
Balk claps his hands and clears his throat.
He’s forcing a smile, but underneath he must be seething with rage.
That’s just the kind of man Balk is.
He never lets his true feelings show in his words.
He always acts the fool.
Even his seemingly open posture is actually a trap to lure me in.
The fact that he doesn’t approach carelessly is proof enough.
He’s wary of me, intensely so, and never lets the distance close too much.
Balk is always cunning.
He makes himself seem elusive, but his focus on his goal is absolute.
That’s why he could pull off a commotion like this.
The skill he displayed ten years ago, plunging people into a vortex of confusion, was no mere façade.
When it comes to conspiracy, there is no one who could rival him.
"Hmm."
Balk stared at me, stroking his chin.
His eyes rolled back even further, their murky pupils locking onto me.
He groaned dramatically.
"Has your heart fallen into darkness from hatred for humans...? No, that's not it. You have some other design, don't you? What is your purpose?"
"That's none of your concern."
I dismissed Balk's query with a kick and leveled the tip of my sword at him.
At this distance, I could sever his head before he could launch an attack.
I wouldn't give him a moment to blink.
I declared to Balk.
"I will stop your ambition."
"Oh ho, listen to you talk. And with that sword! You must still have quite the attachment to it, eh...?"
"..."
I ignored Balk's provocative voice.
Suppressing my rising murderous intent with reason, I held the sword tip steady, fixed upon him.
Causing me to lose my composure was Balk's aim.
I couldn't take the bait.
I had been burned by the same trick before.
"..."
"..."
We fell into silence for a time.
Balk, who had been wearing a wicked grin, abruptly erased it. He sighed and shook his head.
"My, my. You won't show an opening even with such a petty provocation. You seem to have grown mentally over the decade. Or is it the effect of becoming undead?"
"Perhaps."
I didn't engage with Balk's words, keeping my gaze fixed on his movements.
Even if I cooperated, I'd only get entangled in smoke. There was no value in taking the conversation seriously.
Reading my mood, Balk shrugged.
Then, his expression turned fearless.
"Fine. Let's end the idle chat. Dwight, you are an eyesore. You will disappear from here."
"I'll return the same words. For me, you too are an annoyance."
"Haha, what a coincidence. It seems our opinions align... However, are you sure idling around in a place like this is wise?"
Balk's smile deepened meaningfully. There was clear malice visible in it. This wasn't bluster or provocation; he obviously had some basis for it.
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, you haven't noticed? You should broaden your horizons a bit. You should find the situation quite amusing."
Balk spread both arms and began to spin on the spot. He stamped the floor, dancing lightly. A shrill laughter mixed in, scraping against my nerves.
Ignoring Balk's strange behavior, I activated my detection magic. Expanding its range, I immediately sensed something anomalous.
"...!"
A powerful magical reaction existed in the distance. It had appeared there without any prior warning. Had it merely infiltrated, I would have noticed it much earlier. It was as if it had just been born right there.
(This magnitude of magical power... it surpasses Grom.)
None among my subordinates match it. However, the reaction was indeed coming from the direction of the Demon Lord's territory. Even at this distance, I could feel it clearly.
But that wasn't the only problem. I recognized this magical reaction.
(Could it be...)
I felt a considerable degree of alarm. It was impossible. I wanted to deny it, but I was certain I wasn't mistaken.
"While you were being delayed in this city, I had the chance to do what needed doing. My, my, thank you so very much for falling for it so splendidly."
Balk, looking cheerful, gave a graceful bow. His expression was one of triumphant pride.
He had predicted my every move.
He must have stationed magical beasts in anticipation of my arrival at the capital.
Our entire conversation until now had been a stalling tactic.
I had walked, completely and utterly, into his trap.
"…………"
Without a word, I used short-range teleportation to appear directly before Balk.
I drove my sword through his heart in a piercing thrust.
Balk’s eyes widened as he laughed.
"Oh—"
Ignoring his reaction, I channeled my magical flow through the blade.
This demonic race was a puppet, not the real Balk.
However, a magical connection had been established.
By tracing it, I could locate Balk and even attack him directly.
(I will destroy his soul once more—)
Just as I was about to interfere, the demon’s head burst apart.
Blood and brain matter sprayed violently.
The now headless demon collapsed limply to the ground.
Balk’s presence was no longer detectable.
It seemed he had escaped at the very last moment.
(...Can’t be helped, I suppose.)
I lowered my sword and flicked the blood away.
Now was no time for regrets.
More pressing than Balk’s whereabouts were matters that demanded immediate attention.
This was likely another of his lures, but a situation I couldn’t afford to ignore.
While my focus was elsewhere, the magic signature in question activated its spell.
I identified the spell’s nature from the flow of mana.
(—This is bad.)
It was rapidly becoming a situation I couldn’t overlook any longer.
Countless questions surfaced, but I couldn’t afford the time to unravel even one of them.
Investigating the cause could wait for later.
I should pour all my effort into dealing with it now.
I urgently teleported to the Demon Lord’s Realm’s royal capital.
Soaring upward, I took position above the castle.
I sheathed my sword, my gaze sweeping the scene.
"You’ve got to be kidding me."
Witnessing the sight, I couldn’t help but mutter.
Tearing through the sky to descend upon us was a shower of countless meteors.