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anwhile, in the far northern reaches of the Underworld—deep within a mountain range so secluded that no spell could locate it—the scorching sun blazed overhead.
"This should be the place…"
A young demon stood atop a rugged peak, his broad, dark greatsword slung across his back. His eyes scanned the valley below.
A few steps behind him, a striking blonde woman with flawless skin ca to a stop as well, shading her eyes with one hand and looking around.
"Where, where? I don't see anything, little brother~"
"…Nothing?" Leohart frowned slightly.
He'd been delayed for several days cleaning up the ss left behind after Zolgear's death—but he still clearly rembered what that human boy had told him back in the palace.
This was the spot. He was sure of it.
"You sure you didn't just get the place wrong, Leo~?"
The blonde—Liala—tilted her head playfully, closing the distance with a teasing smirk. She poked her little brother's cheek, sounding both affectionate and slightly exasperated.
"I'm pretty sure I didn't ss it up…" Leohart was starting to sweat.
There was no one else around. Just him and his sister. Which ant—thankfully—he didn't have to keep up the stoic Demon Lord act.
Still, no matter how long they stared out over the mountains, there was no sign of any ruins, castle, or anything remotely resembling a base.
Leohart scratched his face awkwardly.
"Maybe… you should head back first, Liala. I'll keep searching around here. I know I didn't get it wrong, and besides—if the Council finds out you snuck off again, you know they'll start complaining. Once I find it, I'll co back and tell you everything—"
"Don't worry, don't worry~"
Liala chuckled softly, clearly amused by how serious he was being. She stood on tiptoe and reached up to ruffle his hair—just like she used to when they were kids.
"Leo, relax. Your big sis can handle the Council losers just fine. And co on, it's been forever since we've gone anywhere together. I was starting to feel like I was growing mushrooms locked up in that stuffy tower. Let enjoy this a little longer, okay?"
"But—"
"No buts~"
She cut him off instantly and pointed toward a winding valley that curved off to the right.
"Hey, does that valley look kinda weird to you?"
"Huh?" Leohart blinked and followed her gaze.
Nothing. Still nothing.
But just as he was about to say so, a soft hand grabbed the back of his collar from behind—like he was a big cat being dragged—and tugged him a few steps to the left.
"You can't see it from there. But if you stand here… there."
…Really?
Still doubtful, Leohart humored her and moved to the exact spot she indicated.
Then he looked again.
And this ti—he saw it.
Just barely, through the angle of the cliffs—a massive, gaping hole carved into the mountain itself.
"That's… at least a hundred ters wide. Damn, that's so serious destructive power."
Liala extended her arms and mimicked a cara fra with her hands, squinting one eye shut like a photographer.
"Let's check it out~"
With that, a teleportation magic circle lit up beneath their feet.
Seconds later, the light faded—and the two now stood at the very center of the massive crater.
A perfect hollowed-out cylinder cut clean through the mountain. Whether they looked up or down, the inner structure of the rock was fully exposed. It felt less like a cave and more like the core of a freshly dug tunnel—one waiting to be lined and reinforced.
Ahead, daylight poured in from the opposite side.
And right there—at the far edge of the hollowed path—lay the corpse of a massive monster, easily as tall as the mountain itself. Sothing like a mutated slug… dead and rotting.
"Isn't that… one of the Heroic Spirit?"
Even though days of intense heat had already begun to decompose the carcass, Leohart recognized it instantly.
A Demon Realm-exclusive behemoth, capable of devouring entire nations.
They were born to consu—livestock, forests, cities, entire regions. No mind, no soul, no emotion. Only an endless, mindless hunger.
Their internal bodies acted like portals to another dinsion—everything swallowed simply ceased to exist. Not even the strongest detection spells could trace anything that went inside. And unless the core was destroyed, they could heal endlessly and keep devouring forever.
Clearly, Zolgear had captured one of these things, enslaved it with magic, and transford it into a massive castle. It had served as his secret base—anchored right here.
But now??
Now it was dead.
And from the looks of it, it hadn't gone down cleanly. It had taken a massive hit—sothing so powerful that even its monstrous healing factor couldn't keep up. It must've tried to restore itself by eating more… but in the end, it succumbed.
"No wonder I could never locate Zolgear…"
Leohart muttered under his breath.
Liala stepped up beside him and poked his cheek again.
"I think the more interesting part here is—who killed both Zolgear and this thing?"
"Oh… right. Yeah. It was so human kid."
"A kid?"
"Yeah. Looked really young. Maybe twenty at most—maybe even younger."
"Huh. That young?"
Now that surprised her...
Demons lived practically forever. Even humans on death's doorstep looked like newborns to them. But soone under twenty, even by human standards, was absurdly young.
Could it be so kind of ancient sorcerer from the human world who'd rejuvenated himself and co out to stir up trouble?
Unlikely. Human mages weren't that busted.
"The weirdest part, though…"
Leohart narrowed his eyes, still trying to piece it together.
"Even though I wasn't going all out, that kid's power was way beyond mine. But he didn't seem hostile. After killing Zolgear right in front of … he just left. Even gave back my sword before he walked off."
"Hmm…"
Liala tapped a finger against her lips. A mont later—ding! A little imaginary lightbulb popped up over her head.
"You think maybe he just liked the way you handled things up north? Like, 'Wow, this Demon Lord's pretty chill,' kind of vibe?"
"…Sis. Are you being serious?"
"Nope~"
She gave him the most innocent smile imaginable.
"Still… if a human like that actually exists, I'd really love to et him soday."
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