“Damn it…”

Bathesia bit her lip. Karos grimaced.

“You’re a Demon King, Bathesia. Another Demon King has tricked you.”

**** ****

The chief danced for a while and then left some bread next to them before departing. However, both of them remained silent without touching the food. After a while, Bathesia spoke.

“Who on earth…!”

“Well, there are too many possibilities to make a guess.”

Bathesia was a Demon King with considerable power, which also meant she had numerous enemies. It had been a week since she fell from the position of a Demon King and became Karos’s subordinate. Those who were quick to receive news would all know.

That a Demon King who had occupied one-tenth of the continent had lost her power and become a subordinate of someone weaker.

It was possible to pull off such a scheme even though it was difficult to directly harm her.

Bathesia ground her teeth.

“I don’t know who it is, but if I catch them…!”

“That’s a story for when we survive, Bathesia.”

Karos closed his eyes quietly. What would happen now? Some could guess, but they didn’t bring it up. Bringing it up would only worsen the situation.

For now, they had done what they could, but the likelihood of being spared was low. Both of them had a high chance of meeting their end.

As time passed, Lillis might realize something was amiss, but she couldn’t come to their aid. In his current state, Karos had no way to deal with this size of a tribe.

“However, I can’t leave it like this for long… It’s getting dangerous.”

Until the Demon King who orchestrated this scheme issues orders, they should be safe. But the situation after that was the problem.

“I need to think about this carefully.”

Karos opened his eyes. It couldn’t end like this. Being caught up in a squabble among Demon Kings and dying like this was out of the question.

Karos silently contemplated the Demon Kings. Meanwhile, Bathesia’s face suddenly stiffened. She began to fidget uneasily and crossed her legs.

“What’s wrong? Why are you acting like that?”

As the noise continued, Karos furrowed his brow and asked. Bathesia lowered her head.

“…”

“What did you say?”

“I need to… go to the restroom…”

Bathesia shouted, her face reddening as if she were about to burst. It was as if she couldn’t hold it any longer. In response, Karos nodded.

“Do you want me to turn around?”

They were trapped in a cave. It was dark, but not very spacious, so they could clearly see each other. The distance between them was only a few steps.

Bathesia shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes, and pointed towards a small hole leading outside.

“Shut up! Hey, you! Goblin! Goblin! Goblin!”

She struggled and shouted. Then, a goblin who was on guard outside hurriedly approached.

“Gee-ick! W-what?”

“I need to use the restroom! This darn bastard!”

“Uh, gee-ick. It’s… It’s not allowed! Chief said not to let you go!”

“Shut up! Let me out!”

“Gee, gee-ick! It’s not allowed! Chief said not to let you go!”

Bathesia screamed desperately, but the goblin panicked and ran away. Bathesia desperately opened her mouth.

“Wait, just a moment! Don’t go! Where are you going?”

But the goblin didn’t look back and went outside the cave. Bathesia stared at his retreating figure in despair. Karos turned away.

“I’m not looking.”

“Oh, okay… Oh, oh no… Oh no…”

**** ****

The chief came back every week, performed a strange dance, left some bread, and then left again.

Four times like that. As a month passed, the tension began to subside. Nothing happened except for being trapped. Except for the fact that Bathesia had been silent since then.

But there was no other option but to wait. As time passed, Bathesia began to talk to Karos. Whenever they were bored, they engaged in conversation.

“…Did you continue to investigate me afterward?”

Karos asked with a disgruntled expression. Bathesia mentioned that even after graduating from the academy, she had continuously gathered information about his whereabouts and how he was living. Karos clicked his tongue in annoyance.

“You crazy person.”

“Shut up. Think about what you did to me.”

Bathesia growled.

“After becoming a Demon King, I was quite busy initially, so I couldn’t do anything to you. But once my foundation stabilized and I heard the news that you had become a Demon King, I rushed to the Great Demon King. That’s where I met you.”

“Why?”

“Why? Well, to ask for your location, of course. I wanted to find you and kill you. But now, I can’t do that anymore.”

…I’m lucky we met in advance. Karos swallowed hard. It could have ended very differently.

“But why do you keep doing this to me? Even if you were pursuing a grudge, it’s in the past. Besides, I’m not dead.”

“Why are you making an issue of this now? You know very well that I have every right to go after your life.”

“I know that. But it doesn’t seem like your personality to do this, Bathesia.”

Karos knew her personality. Despite the ups and downs they had, that was what had drawn them together the most.

Bathesia didn’t say anything more about the things they had done to each other. What Karos had done to Bathesia was extreme, but she had insulted him just as much.

Originally, Karos would have let most things slide, but she had driven him to do such things. Bathesia snorted.

“What are you talking about? I wouldn’t have said anything if you had just done that much. But you went too far. Spreading rumors like that? You crossed the line, Karos.”

“Rumors? What are you talking about?”

Karos tilted his head in confusion. He had never spread any rumors. Bathesia growled.

“Don’t act like you don’t know! I know you’re the one who spread the rumor that I’m the daughter of a brothel prostitute! You’re the only one who knows that! You bastard!”

“What…?”

Karos’s face stiffened. Bathesia contorted her body and yelled.

“That’s right! I’m the daughter of a brothel prostitute! I’m proud of it! I loved my mother, and I worked hard to overcome that background to get to where I am today! But you, of all people, spread that around! The only person who could have known that was you! You bastard!”

“What…?”

Karos was taken aback. He had no knowledge of such a rumor. Bathesia was visibly agitated.

“What are you talking about? I didn’t do anything like that.”

“You… you’re lying.”

Bathesia’s voice quivered. Karos opened his mouth.

“I’m sorry, but I’ve never heard of this before.”

“What nonsense…”

Thud. Thud. Thud.

They heard footsteps approaching. Karos raised his head with a sinking feeling. The village chief was coming towards them.

“Gee-ick! Demon King Karos! Come this way!”

“It seems he’s feeling quite confident.”

Karos muttered as he reluctantly got up. Bathesia complained with an annoyed expression.

“Why is he only calling him?”

“Gee-ick! It’s the master’s will!”

Ignoring Bathesia’s complaints, the chief led the way. Karos followed behind him.

They arrived at a small hut. The other goblins had retreated, leaving them alone. In the center, a large crystal was placed. The chief placed his hand on the crystal and muttered something. Then, a surge of magic energy began to emanate from it.

Wooom…

Magic gathered and formed a shape above the crystal. Finally, a figure appeared.

A captivating woman with long violet hair and a languid face. There was something decadent about her. It was none other than Borcania Barsilof, the Demon King of Betrayal and Snakes.

“Hello, Karos. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

“It certainly has, Borcania Barsilof.” Karos muttered with a sigh.

“The Demon King of Betrayal and Snakes.”

Hyung_Otaku

I'm currently Translating the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!