Chapter 65
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[Holy shit this guy is just insanely strong..]
What the hell was he doing in hell?
Wow we just got completely destroyed without being able to do anything
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Let me get straight to the point.
This time's demon subjugation mission against Dantalian failed. The knights who went on the raid ultimately failed to capture him and let him escape.
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[What even is Dantalian's ability?]
He blocks everything we throw at him and has that paralysis thing
And his attacks are like one-shot kills with just a finger flick
This mf just does everything lol fuck
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[He's definitely a mage]
[ㄴ Who doesn't know that?]
[What was that thing where dozens died at once? Even the streamer I was watching died then]
[ㄴ That was magic]
[ㄴ Yeah no shit sherlock]
[ㄴ Thanks for the helpful answer^^]
The biggest reason for the failure was definitely Dantalian's own strength.
With that small frame of his, he kept firing off magic without rest - there was no way to deal with it.
The continuous barrage of devastatingly powerful spells cut down both Otherworlders and NPCs alike.
Being a mage, his numerous AoE skills were a huge problem.
Even when they charged in with army-scale numbers, one spell from him would wipe out scores of people.
Like last time, sending in the Otherworlders first ended up just buying him more time.
Well... still, the subjugation itself had been going relatively smoothly.
While his magic was certainly devastating, he was still just one individual after all.
When overwhelmed by sheer numbers, he would eventually have to fall back.
Plus, there were strong individuals among the human forces. They had the ability to find openings to strike at Dantalian's small frame.
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[But honestly we were about to win right?]
If it wasn't for these Lemegeton bastards he wouldn't have been able to retreat
These cultists are just no help to the game
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[fr lol]
[Wow didn't expect them to jump in at the end like that]
But this time Lemegeton intervened at the final moment.
Compared to the Andromalius subjugation, both the demon was stronger and they had more followers.
They had gained enough power to interfere in such a massive battle.
Because of that, the subjugation force had to return to their home country having only taken losses.
Only confirming that this demon wouldn't be as easy to catch as the last one...
So what is that demon, who escaped thanks to Lemegeton, doing now?
Well......
*
While most users joined Lemegeton because of Seere, that wasn't the only reason.
Many users joined Lemegeton for other reasons.
Simple curiosity about the new group. Following friends, or hoping they might get quests too.
And among them were those who thought 'Maybe I can get more views if I stream with a Lemegeton title?'
Yeop-Yeop, a Lemegeton follower and streamer, was one of those.
And she didn't regret that choice. As an unknown streamer, she was able to grow into a mid-tier streamer thanks to Lemegeton's uniqueness.
Just sharing a few stories about Lemegeton during her chat streams would bring in thousands of viewers. Though they were technically an evil organization, they were still one of the choices available to users.
People could be curious about the information.
Thanks to that, Yeop-Yeop was still raking in solid view counts. Praising her past self for joining Lemegeton.
And that praise continued even now, with the demon Dantalian before her eyes.
"Whew, thanks to you we escaped without much trouble. By the way, who might you all be?"
"No need for thanks. I am Harold, the Fourth Branch Leader."
Through her dedicated Lemegeton activities, Yeop-Yeop had become talented enough to handle important missions alongside the executives.
After all, she was a high-level user and an Otherworlder who could revive after death.
She was perfect for dangerous missions.
Looking at the demon whose face kept morphing before her eyes, she thought:
'This is my chance!'
Who'd have thought I'd get to see another demon up close after Seere?
She could already see the flood of views just from streaming this story.
Of course, the demon before her was very different from Seere. Unlike the handsome Seere who made you smile just looking at him, the demon before her sent chills down your spine.
While the body was 'male'... the face was grotesquely bizarre.
That's because the facial muscles were constantly moving and shifting, changing the face.
'Ugh, creepy...'
She could only feel disgust because of it.
This game had some strangely gory elements in unexpected places. Well, it certainly made him seem demonic...
It was then, while she was thinking this.
"......"
Suddenly Dantalian's gaze turned toward her. Though he still wore that seemingly polite smile, Yeop-Yeop felt only fear looking at it.
She'd thought he'd just keep talking with the Branch Leader.
Why was he suddenly looking at her when she'd just been standing in the back like wallpaper?
While she was thinking this, Dantalian asked.
"You're an Otherworlder, I see? And a streamer at that?"
"Oh? Ah, yes. That's right..."
Though Yeop-Yeop was startled for a moment, she managed to nod.
And internally swallowed a curse.
'What the fuck...'
How did he know she was a streamer when she hadn't said anything?
Does he read player logs or capsule data like that One-Horned Lord?
Confusion swirled in her head. Even amid that, Dantalian continued speaking.
"Let me give you some advice. Please be careful with your thoughts in my presence."
"Ah, yes... understood."
Honestly she didn't really understand what he meant, but Yeop-Yeop just nodded. She didn't want to draw any more of his attention.
"So, what do you desire that made you help me?"
Thankfully, Dantalian's attention quickly dispersed. Upon arriving at the Lemegeton branch, he asked this of the Branch Leader.
Hearing the question, the Branch Leader bowed smoothly and spoke:
"How dare I help Lord Dantalian expecting something in return? Just being able to serve at your side is more than enough."
"...My, that's a lie. While I appreciate your reverence, please don't speak in roundabout ways. I despise those who say one thing and mean another."
Though a smile still graced his lips, it was strangely murderous words.
Hearing those words, the Branch Leader hurriedly apologized.
"I apologize."
"Hehe, it's fine. Then let me ask once more. What do you desire?"
"I wish to borrow your authority as a demon."
The Branch Leader continued.
"What I desire is for our Lemegeton to stand tall in this world. For other kingdoms to bow beneath us. We need your mighty authority as a demon."
"What a grand and ugly desire. However, I like your honesty."
Dantalian smiled and spoke again.
Squirming, his facial muscles moved until forming a dark and gloomy male face.
Somehow this face seemed to suit him best.
"However, my power alone won't be enough. I felt it while facing those humans just now. Unless it was Lord Paimon... By any chance, are there other demons besides myself?"
"Not at present. But we have a way to find them."
Branch Leader Harold said this while handing over an item to him.
It was Andromalius's arm. They had already received permission from the General President.
Though only one use remained and they'd been saving it until now, it was something they were able to receive thanks to helping with the demon summoning.
If they could use this to summon another demon, the Fourth Branch Leader's position would become even more secure.
Seeing Andromalius's arm, Dantalian burst out laughing.
"This is the arm of someone familiar."
"Do you know them?"
"Of course. Though we're not on the same side, we're both demons who received ranks after all. I can roughly guess how to use it too."
Dantalian said this while picking up the item.
The arm of Andromalius in his hands rapidly decayed. It meant he was using the item's ability.
Crackle...
Along with the sound of the arm drying up, Dantalian's voice rang out:
"So you want me to find an altar with this. Well, since our interests seem to align... I'll specially find you a mighty demon."
He seemed to know not just how to use it, but how to use it better.
Whether it was because he was also a demon.
Soon the rapidly decaying arm of Andromalius pointed in one direction with its last strength, as if using its final power.
A city located at the edge of the Empire.
A restricted zone that takes quite a walk to reach even from that city, where even humans rarely enter.
Confirming the arm's direction, Dantalian smiled and spoke.
"It's that way. Shall we go take a look?"
What people commonly called the 'Forbidden Forest'.
That was the direction the arm pointed to.
*
In the forest thick with grass and trees, Demonic Power flows year-round.
The Demonic Power that flows thickly in all directions sometimes corrupts small creatures, causing mutations.
Making them stronger, more ferocious.
In the past, as people died to the ferocious beasts emerging from the forest, they gradually came to avoid it. They even attached the adjective 'Forbidden' to warn others not to enter.
But because of this avoidance, people remained ignorant about the true nature of the forest.
When did Demonic Power start flowing here, and where does it flow from?
Though they had questions, none investigated. Naturally, they don't know the cause.
And that included the forest's only human resident.
"Hmm~ Nice weather today."
Yor was no exception.