A woman who could make him the Demon King.
Clay couldn’t help but laugh at such an audacious introduction.
But the woman before him scowled with dissatisfaction.
“What’s with that reaction?”
Clay quickly wiped the grin off his face, “Apologies. I’m just… not used to being talked about like that.”
“You’d better get used to it, if you want my help,” With that, she set the vial back down on her desk and continued, “I’m Lin Siart. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“I’m Clay… but I guess you already knew that, if you’ve heard so much.”
She nodded.
“Yeah. Who hasn’t heard your name in this world?”
At that, Clay went quiet.
Lin Siart, huh…
Even he, the Hero, had never heard of her before.
A Magical Scholar, maybe?
He’d encountered them plenty during the war—those who modified or enhanced demons through research, creating new tools or monsters for battle.
But if she’s not even a known name…
It was hard to believe someone unknown could make such bold claims.
“You’re giving me a weird look,” Lin furrowed her brows as Clay stared, “You’re thinking something pretty rude, aren’t you?”
“...Not really.”
“Please. It’s obvious,” She flicked her golden bob and said proudly, “You’re doubting whether I’m worth anything.”
“…”
“Don’t act all high and mighty just because you were the Hero,” She stepped closer, blue eyes glaring up at him, “There are plenty of hidden talents in the Demon King’s army.”
“And you’re one of them?”
“Don’t make me say it myself!” Blushing, Lin spun around and marched back to her desk, “Anyway, I’m preparing something for you. It’ll take a bit more time, so come back later.”
“I don’t recall agreeing to anything…”
“Then are you saying you won’t become the Demon King?” Her expression turned nervous, “If it’s not you, there’s no one else suitable. You have to do it.”
“Is there such a thing as someone ‘suited’ for that?”
“Of course!” Lin pointed directly at him, “Huge mana capacity and natural control! You have the same traits the Demon King had!”
“But I used to wield divine power.”
“And I’ll change that!”
“What?”
Clay blinked in confusion. Lin planted her hands on her hips and declared,
“You’re converting mana into divine power. That’s why the priests’ seals are still suppressing you. If I disrupt that process and let it manifest as Magia, you’ll regain your powers.”
Clay’s eyes widened.
“That’s… possible?”
“Didn’t someone already awaken Magia in you? You just need a bit more help breaking through.”
At her words, Clay clenched his jaw.
That’s right… Magia did awaken in my body.
Because of his automatic conversion to divine power, that emergence had created inner conflict and pain.
Now that my divine power is suppressed, it’s fine… but still…
He suddenly wondered—why had the priests only suppressed his divine power?
“They didn’t even try to suppress your Magia. That means… you were probably framed.”
Lin’s voice cut in perfectly on cue.
“Framed…?”
“Yeah. They thought suppressing divine power alone would be enough to execute you. If you’d really been a servant of the Demon King, they would’ve tried to block your Magia too.”
Her logic made Clay’s face harden.
If true, then it meant the Holy Alliance had interfered with the intention of eliminating him.
“No need to look so gloomy. What matters is you’re still alive,” Lin took his hand, “Become the Demon King. Everything will fall into place.”
“...Alright.”
“Yesss!”
She jumped up with a squeal.
“Didn’t think you’d agree so easily!”
“I guess I just figured… doing something is better than nothing.”
After hearing Beatrice, and now Lin… Clay couldn’t help but feel a sort of bitter resignation. Maybe he was just saying whatever came to mind.
“Well, I’ll do my best! Leave it to me!”
She shook his hand up and down like she was excited about a new lab specimen. Clay forced a smile.
“Sure… I’ll be counting on you.”
♧
“Did you enjoy your chat with Lin?”
When Clay returned to the Demon King’s office, Beatrice had already returned from wherever she’d gone.
“More or less.”
“She’ll be helping you a lot. Try to get along.”
“I’ll try.”
Beatrice smiled at his answer.
“You seem a little worn out.”
“She poked and prodded me the whole time. Said it was to run tests.”
Lin had run a full body check. Not just height and weight, but allergies, compatibility for experimental formulas, and more.
“It might be tedious, but trust me—it’ll help you in the end.”
“I figured as much. Don’t worry.”
“So… did you say you’d become the Demon King?”
Clay groaned faintly.
“You did, didn’t you?”
“Well… I guess if it happens, it happens.”
“That’s a half-hearted answer.”
“I still don’t know what it means to be the Demon King.”
Throwing everything away and taking the title was easy.
But if it meant taking responsibility for the demons… then that was different.
“You don’t need to worry so much about that,” Beatrice spoke softly, “As long as you sit in the seat, the rest will take care of itself.”
“…Alright.”
Clay sat down in the large chair positioned behind the Demon King’s desk.
“If not for you, I’d have been caught and dragged off again.”
He made his decision.
“I’ll do it. I’ll be the Demon King.”
From that moment, everything would begin to change.
“Let’s do this together, Beatrice.”
This time, he was the one to extend his hand.
Beatrice clasped it gently.
“Let’s, Clay.”
A new era was already stirring.
♧
“Damn it. Damn it damn it damn it!”
As she helped the injured Lilien back toward the capital, Nael, the beastkin warrior, seethed with rage.
“They even took the body...!”
She was furious.
Lilien had told her the body was gone.
Of course, she hadn’t shared everything.
She only said that when she arrived at the burial site, the ground had been disturbed and there were traces of demonic presence.
But even that had Nael gritting her teeth.
“Damn demons… I’ll kill every last one of them!”
“…”
Lilien remained silent as she watched her.
Best not to provoke her further.
Nael had nearly rushed off alone. Lilien had barely convinced her otherwise.
If I died, I wouldn’t be able to report anything…
Lilien explained that they would need the empire’s help to recover Clay’s body. That even Tia had shown interest in retrieving it.
Though Nael distrusted Tia deeply, Lilien convinced her.
She explained that Tia had intended to secretly recover the body for burial, and would probably look the other way if Nael were the one to do it.
Reluctantly, Nael agreed.
She would escort Lilien to the palace.
“Just wait… I’ll kill them all…”
Lilien could only sigh at Nael’s continued fury.
Let’s just hope we make it back safely…
And they did.
Nael returned to Ezer’s royal capital, where Tia awaited them.
Thud.
Nael laid Lilien down before Tia’s throne.
“She’s badly wounded. Please heal her.”
“I am sorry, Your Majesty.”
Lilien lowered her head as Tia stared down at her coldly.
“You tried to find Clay’s body, didn’t you?”
Her gaze grew even icier as she asked.
“I’ll search on my end. But if you find anything first, you report it to me. That’s why I brought her.”
Pointing to Lilien, Nael turned and left.
“I’m off. Don’t forget what I just said.”
Thud.
After she was gone, Tia turned to Lilien.
“So you told her everything?”
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty!”
Tia walked to the corner and picked up a sword.
“I don’t want apologies. That’s not what I need right now.”
“…There’s something I had to tell you directly. That’s why I came back.”
“Something that needed to be said face-to-face?”
Tia narrowed her eyes.
“What is it?”
“Clay… was walking. Alive.”
“…What?”
Tia’s eyes went wide.
“What are you saying?”
“I don’t know if he’s undead. I can’t even say if that kind of intact body is possible for one… but someone was with him.”
She finally delivered the name.
“Beatrice.”
Beatrice.
One of the Demon King’s Four Generals. The origin of the Dragonoids.
“The Dragonoid… Beatrice of the Four Generals.”
Tia froze.
As if all breath had left her body.
(End of Chapter)