The air inside the throne room grew heavy.
King Tedron's robes clung to his back, damp with sweat.
'This presence…'
His throat tightened.
'I've felt something similar before. From Karl… and Gustav…'
Those two beings he had summoned.
Those beings who were far from normal demons.
His gaze returned to the demon lounging on his throne.
'This demon… is he an Archdemon?'
'What is something like that doing here…?'
Beside him, Sauzer reacted far quicker.
He drew his sword in one smooth motion.
"Father! It's a demon! Get back!"
Before Tedron could stop him, Sauzer stepped forward to attack—
Loki lazily raised his hand.
Two fingers flicked slightly to the right.
Nothing flashy.
No grand magic circle.
No chant.
No warning.
Sauzer froze mid-step.
A thin line formed across his chest.
Then—
Blood spilled.
His eyes widened.
"What… just happened…?"
His sword slipped from his grip as he dropped to his knees, coughing violently. Blood splattered across the polished floor.
Tedron's voice cracked.
"Sauzer!"
A cruel smile curved across Loki's lips.
"You see," he said casually, resting his chin on his palm, "I'm not a very violent demon."
His golden eyes glimmered.
"But when attacked… best believe I will fight back. It's only self-defense."
Tedron's nails dug into his palms.
He looked at his son kneeling in a pool of blood.
'Sauzer cannot die here.'
Panic and rage twisted together in his chest.
'If he dies… it will ruin everything.'
'What would have been the point of summoning Karl and Gustav then…?'
He forced himself to look at the demon.
"You… what do you want?"
The smile vanished from Loki's face.
Instantly—
A suffocating pressure swallowed the throne room.
The air itself felt heavy, crushing.
Loki's eyes sharpened.
"Now that won't do, King Tedron."
His voice was calm.
"That sort of tone will not work when speaking to me."
Tedron's breathing hitched.
His survival instincts screamed at him to kneel.
He swallowed hard.
"I-I'm sorry. That was rude of me… Demon-sama. What can I do for you?"
Loki tilted his head slightly.
"It's Loki-sama."
Tedron bowed his head immediately.
"Yes… Loki-sama."
The pressure eased.
Loki smiled again.
"Good."
He adjusted his posture on the throne, still completely at ease.
"King Tedron, I merely wished to speak with you. I have a very tiny request."
Tedron forced a diplomatic smile onto his face.
"And what might that request be?"
Suddenly—
A scraping sound echoed.
Sauzer.
He was standing again.
Using his sword to keep himself upright.
Blood ran down his chest and dripped from his chin.
"Father… you should get away… I'll handle this demon…"
Tedron's eye twitched.
'Idiot.'
'Stay down.'
'You cannot die here.'
Loki blinked in mild surprise.
"Oh? You're still standing?"
He leaned forward slightly, examining Sauzer.
"I did not use a full-power dismantle… but this is rather surprising."
Sauzer's breathing was ragged.
"You damn demon… Do you think you can just walk in here and do whatever you want?"
He raised his sword shakily.
"Get off that throne. It doesn't belong to you."
Loki glanced at the throne beneath him.
"Oh? This?"
He rested his elbow on the armrest.
"It's mine now."
His golden eyes gleamed with amusement.
"You see, I'm a demon. And demons take whatever they like, whenever they like."
He smiled lazily.
"If I wasn't so lazy… I'd take this entire country."
His voice dropped slightly.
"And no one would stop me."
Sauzer roared.
"Damn you!"
He lunged forward—
Three invisible slashes tore through his body.
One.
Two.
Three.
Blood sprayed into the air.
Sauzer collapsed instantly.
This time—
He did not rise.
Tedron's composure shattered.
"Damn you! How dare you cut down my son!"
Loki sighed softly.
"King Tedron… please drop the act."
He looked genuinely bored.
"I, for one, do not enjoy poor performances."
Tedron's face twisted with fury.
"What the hell are you talking about?!"
Loki's smile returned.
Cold and sharp.
"What? Are you angry that I'll kill your vessel?"
Tedron froze.
The word echoed in his mind.
Vessel.
Loki leaned back comfortably on the throne.
"Don't worry."
His golden eyes narrowed slightly.
"He won't die."
A faint smirk formed.
"At least… not for now."
"Vessel?"
King Tedron's voice trembled despite his effort to steady it.
"I don't know what you are talking about."
Loki chuckled softly. The sound echoed unnaturally in the vast throne room.
"A sixty-eight-year-old King… who simply cannot accept that his time is up… summons two Archdemons to help him seize the body of one of his sons so he may continue ruling the nation."
He rested his cheek on his hand, golden eyes gleaming with mock admiration.
"A tale of a selfish King who cares about nothing more than the growth of his nation… and his own personal agendas."
His smile widened.
"Is that accurate, King Tedron?"
Tedron gritted his teeth.
"You—"
Loki cut him off smoothly.
"You would even go so far as to sacrifice your own daughter for your personal gain."
His gaze sharpened.
"King Tedron… are you sure you are not a demon?"
Silence filled the throne room.
Then—
Tedron suddenly smiled.
The fear faded from his face, replaced by cold resolve.
"Fine."
His eyes narrowed.
"I don't know how you know so much. But yes. That is the truth."
He straightened his back despite the pressure lingering in the air.
"And what are you going to do about it?"
His voice hardened.
"You know I have two Archdemons under me. Yet you invade my palace so carelessly."
His lips curled.
"Do you have a death wish?"
For the first time—
Loki's expression shifted.
The air trembled.
A terrifying presence exploded outward.
The walls cracked. The chandeliers shattered. The floor groaned under invisible weight.
"Huh!?"
His golden eyes burned.
"Did you just threaten me with little Violet's lackeys… you lowlife King?"
Tedron's body locked in place.
Cold sweat poured down his face.
'Violet-sama…'
The Demon Lord who ruled over Karl and Gustav.
This demon dared to casually utter her name—
And with such blatant disrespect.
'Just who… is he?'
Loki exhaled in annoyance.
"Being in your presence is suddenly such a bother."
He leaned back again, crossing one leg over the other.
"I'll tell you why I came."
His voice turned flat.
"And it is no longer a request."
His golden eyes pierced Tedron's soul.
"It is an order."
The pressure intensified.
"The Western Nations Conference."
Tedron's heart skipped.
"You will name me as the official delegate of the Kingdom of Coleus."
Tedron's eyes widened.
'The Western Nations Conference…'
He had planned to attend personally.
Despite his age.
He had intended to solidify Coleus' standing among the nations.
To secure influence.
To ensure his legacy.
But now—
Loki slightly raised his voice.
"Are we clear?"
Tedron's throat felt dry.
He nodded slowly.
"Yes… Loki-sama."
'…I have no choice.'
His instincts screamed the truth at him.
'I have no concrete evidence… but my gut tells me…'
'Even Karl and Gustav together would stand no chance against this demon.'
'If I oppose him… I will truly die.'
Tedron swallowed.
"Loki-sama… may I ask one thing?"
Loki looked mildly irritated.
"What."
"Please… do not kill my son."
Loki blinked once.
"Your son is already dead."
Tedron's eyes went wide.
"What did you say?!"
Loki waved a hand dismissively.
"Relax."
His tone was casual.
"I have full control of his soul."
He smiled faintly.
"I will revive him. Alongside the countless other soldiers of yours who were quite the pests."
Tedron's mind froze.
"What are you talking abou—"
He stopped.
His gaze slowly lifted upward.
And what he saw shattered the last of his composure.
The ceiling of the throne hall—
Was covered in bodies.
Soldiers.
Dozens.
No, hundreds.
Impaled by spears.
Hanging lifelessly like grotesque decorations.
Blood dripped down the stone walls.
Tedron's breath caught in his throat.
His entire body trembled.
'This demon…'
His vision blurred.
'He is a monster.'
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