Debuff Master-Chapter 929

“The Demon Realm... I’d like to, but I have no plans to go for now,” Metatron replied.

“What if my lord pays a quick visit just to check on His Majesty?” Chaos suggested.

“How can I face my father when I am nothing more than a slave to humans, Chaos?”

“B-But, my lord...”

“Never has a demon lord or their direct descendant, in the history of the entire Demon Realm, served as slaves to humans.”

Metatron was right. There had been rare cases where lower-ranking demons were tricked and captured by humans, but never, not once, was a demon lord or a high-ranking demon enslaved by humans.

“There’s no way father would miss that I have become a slave to humans.”

“My lord.”

“Visiting him now would be a greater insult than not visiting at all. That’s why... I won’t see him again until I regain my freedom,” Metatron said bitterly.

“Sniff...!”

Chaos clenched his fists, his eyes welling with tears at the sorrow and frustration. He understood his master’s pain better than anyone else. He, himself, was of low birth, scorned and trampled on by others.

However, his life had taken a drastic turn the moment Metatron took him in and elevated him to the rank of a high-ranking demon.

For that, he owed Metatron everything.

“...Time will resolve it. My father’s health is poor and declining, but he should be fine for another two or three hundred years as long as he doesn’t push himself too hard.”

“I agree, my lord.”

“And King Siegfried is still human, after all. He will have no choice but to release me in the next few hundred years. I just have to endure until then."

“Stay strong, my lord!”

“Don’t worry, Chaos. I, Metatron, have not given up on claiming the throne. The moment I regain my freedom, I will return to the Demon Realm and claim my rightful place.”

“Yes, my lord! I have no doubt that my lord will surely achieve it! I, Chaos, will serve you with unwavering loyalty until the day you ascend as the Demon King!”

The two swore to break free from their chains and ascend to greater heights in the future, all while roasting marshmallows over the campfire.

***

“I trusted you... Hyungseokius...”

Chae Hyung-Seok was greeted by Baroque’s heavily disappointed voice the moment he returned to the Demon Realm.

The reason for it was simple. Chae Hyung-Seok failed to complete the Relief Pitcher quest, which meant that he failed to secure Credos’ soul for Baroque.

“M-My lord...!”

“I placed my faith in you... yet you have betrayed my trust?!”

“There was nothing I could do, my lord! P-Please, forgive me!”

Chae Hyung-Seok immediately fell to his knees and bowed deeply before Baroque.

“What’s the point of blaming you now?” Baroque grumbled.

Surprisingly, he let Chae Hyung-Seok off without much scolding. He was not letting him off the hook because he was fond of him.

No, it was because Chae Hyung-Seok was a crucial asset. His powerful, wide-area buff skills made him an invaluable—no, the backbone of Baroque’s army.

Compared to the other domains, the 7th Domain was relatively weak.

However, Chae Hyung-Seok and his buff skills had been holding the line for them.

Thus, Baroque hadn't reprimanded him too harshly even though he had failed an important mission.

Besides, even he admitted that the mission was absurdly difficult to begin with.

“Make sure you won’t disappoint me again next time,” Baroque said.

“Yes, my lord. I am eternally grateful for your mercy,” Chae Hyung-Seok replied with a bow.

“How could I not forgive my most trusted retainer?”

“I am forever grateful, my lord.”

With his head still bowed, Chae Hyung-Seok carefully added.

“Umm... My lord?”

“Hm?”

“King Siegfried van Proa has a message for my lord.”

“A message from that bastard? What’s the message?”

“Long live...”

“Hmm?”

At that moment, Chae Hyung-Seok’s eyes glowed green.

“...the Proatine Kingdom.”

“Hm? Did you say long live the Proatine Kingdom, Hyungseokius—”

“Glory to Proatine!”

It was then.

KABOOM!

Chae Hyung-Seok’s body exploded into countless pieces.

“AAAAACK!”

Baroque was covered from head to toe by what remained of Chae Hyung-Seok and radioactive energy.

“W-What is this?! What in the name of madness is this?! Get this mess cleaned up! I said, clean it up, NOW!” Baroque roared in anger.

Despite the terrorist attack, Baroque was not harmed.

As a high-ranking demon, neither the explosion nor the radioactive energy had much effect on him. However, just because he emerged unscathed from it did not mean that he wasn't furious.

Being humiliated in the Human Realm already enraged him, and suffering a terrorist attack in his own chambers sent him over the edge.

“Siegfried van Proa... you FUCKING son of a BITCHHH!” Baroque bellowed, cursing the cursed human at the top of his lungs.

He was bellowing curses after curses when he was suddenly interrupted by one of his subordinates.

“My lord, we received a secret letter from the 5th Domain.”

“What? Did you just say the 5th Domain?” Baroque muttered, his eyes widened in shock.

“Yes, my lord.”

But I don’t have any allies in that domain?”

“The message... is from Demon Lord Dantalion himself.”

What? Dantalion sent me a secret letter?”

“I'm afraid I do not know the details, my lord.”

“Hand it over.”

“Here, my lord.”

Baroque took the secret letter and read it carefully.

The message was simple. Dantalion wanted to meet and discuss an important matter.

‘What is he up to...?’

Baroque couldn’t bring himself to accept the invitation so easily.

Why?

It was all because Dantalion was one of the most—if not the most cunning and deceitful demon in the entire Demon Realm. In terms of combat power, he was the weakest among the demon lords, but his intelligence and cunning were unparalleled.

Despite his lack of combat prowess, he managed to compete with the other demon lords shoulder to shoulder.

Thus, Baroque wasn't keen on getting involved with him.

He had no idea what Dantalion’s true intentions were, and if he made the mistake of allying with the most cunning demon in the Demon Realm, there was a good chance he would be betrayed.

However...

— If you do not wish to watch Metatron take the throne, it would be wise to join forces with me. We will discuss the details in person.

The last few words on the secret letter made it impossible for Baroque to refuse the meeting.

‘Damn it... That conniving bastard definitely knows something I don’t...’ Baroque gritted his teeth. He had no other choice. Metatron already had Demon Sword: Avenger, and on top of that, the latest incident had severely damaged Vernas’ trust in Baroque.

Thus, Baroque made up his mind—he was going to meet with Dantalion.

***

Siegfried tended to Brunhilde while Verdandi was in the bed right beside him.

“Don’t worry about a thing, and get some rest. Everything is okay now,” he said with a warm, gentle smile.

“Yes, father,” Verdandi replied with a nod, but she firmly gripped his hand and refused to let go.

‘Haa...’

His heart ached while watching her. This incident was bound to leave deep scars on her, as war was far too cruel for a young girl like her to experience.

Even grown men were haunted by nightmares for life, and some even lost their sanity entirely from trauma.

‘I’m sorry. I should have only let you see good things in this world. I swear I’ll protect you. You won’t go through something like this ever again...’ Siegfried vowed while watching his daughter, who had fallen asleep while clutching his hand.

However, he was feeling uneasy.

Archangel Auriel was now aware of the existence of Brunhilde and Verdandi. And it went without saying that the reason they caught his eyes was that they were perfect vessels for both him and Lucifer.

If these two ended up becoming vessels for Auriel and Lucifer, then Siegfried’s happiness would be completely shattered into pieces.

Worse, these two would lead the Celestial Realm’s charge into the world.

‘That damned bastard... I’m going to kill him with my own hands one day...’ Siegfried gnashed his teeth while thinking of the despicable, corrupted angel.

A few hours later...

“Hey, Hamchi.”

“Kyu?”

“I’ll go rest, so please keep watch over here, okay?”

“Kyu! Leave it to me and go rest! Hamchi will keep sister-in-law and niece safe!”

“Thanks, man.”

Leaving Brunhilde and Verdandi in Hamchi’s care, Siegfried picked up the Holy Sword: Phoenix and stepped out of the room.

‘This damn sword. Holy sword my ass...’

He was taking the sword to Quandt to have it destroyed. Yes, he knew that Brunhilde would be saddened to lose the sword she cherished, but there was no other choice.

The Holy Sword: Phoenix was Auriel’s relic.

That alone made it no different from a cursed artifact that had to be destroyed no matter what.

While he was on his way to Quandt’s workshop...

“Your Majesty.”

—Siegfried happened to run into Michele, who was coming from the opposite direction.

“Oh? What are you doing here, Michele?”

“What happened, sire?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I have heard that Irene von Posteriore will be living in the palace.”

“Ah, that? It’s nothing.”

“Excuse me? How is that ‘nothing’ to you?”

“She’s here as the Commander of the 8th Corps sent by Emperor Stuttgart.”

“Ha... I am pretty sure that you, of all people, clearly know that is not what this is about...” Michele said with a long sigh.

“I do. But what can I do? Emperor Stuttgart just dumped this whole thing on me.”

“Rumors are already spreading, sire.”

“What kind of rumors?”

“That Siegfried van Proa and Irene von Posteriore are getting engaged in a political marriage.”

“...!”

“Your Majesty. People are not as foolish as they seem. Other incidents can give birth to baseless rumors, but the people still have faith in Your Majesty. However, Irene von Posteriore is not just some woman you have a fling with. Her name alone carries significant weight, turning this whole thing into a bigger deal.”

“Ah...”

“Everyone already thinks that this is a closed case.”

“No way...?”

“Please, go and check for yourself.”

“Huh? How?”

“Your Majesty’s ears are quite sharp, right?”

“Wait, hold on.”

Siegfried focused his hearing, picking up the conversations happening within the royal palace.

“So Emperor Stuttgart is trying to marry off that infamous troublemaker to His Majesty?”

“Is she going to oust Her Majesty? What if that woman demands to be the new queen?”

“His Majesty is really crossing the line here! Her Majesty is still alive and well, yet he’s openly bringing in another woman?!”

The opinion of the servants and maids was not as bad as it could be. Most people sympathized with Siegfried rather than curse him, and they seemed to understand that this whole situation was forced upon him.

However, the consensus was that the political marriage between him and Irene was going to happen.

Just as always, Brunhilde ended up being the victim pitied by everyone.

“Ha... I was planning to reject the emperor’s offer, but I missed the timing to do so.”

“And how were you planning to deal with his wrath?”

“I’d just have to deal with it, no? If the emperor gets pissed, then so be it.”

“What?”

“I have to become strong enough that I won’t have to care about his opinion. So don’t worry too much about it. I’ll handle things when the time comes.”

“Sigh...”

Michele let out a sigh and shook his head.

To defy Emperor Stuttgart’s will would require more than the power of a Grandmaster. No, Siegfried would have to push himself past the limits of a human being and attain power the world had never seen before.

“I’ll talk things over with the queen, so don’t worry about it too much.”

“As you command, sire.”

“Anyway, I’ll be going. Bye.”

With that, Siegfried resumed his journey toward Quandt’s workshop.

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