***

The black goblin’s sudden behavior took us by surprise, but we were still able to pass through without incident thanks to the quick action of Sevi.

Perhaps it was because of the strict teaching of the trio so far, the trio did as well as they had learned.

Not to mention the professional backup from Axion and August.

Thanks to that we were able to collect experience from every corner, even the hidden demons. I marveled when Julieta wiped the blood of the demon that had turned on her face with the back of her hand.

“How does the Vice Commander know this?”

“Later…. I’ll let you know when I get a chance.”

I casually laughed it off.

The levels of all six of us, except Meyer, had risen effortlessly. It didn’t go up easily because of his originally high-level and large experience section.

I properly drove my experience by looking at the level gauge bar of the expedition members.

‘If it’s 1% experience or 99% experience, the same level 65, the actual stats are the same, so it’s beneficial to drive one person to make level 66 if possible.’

Of course, this method takes a long time.

It makes the situation outside the dungeon that much more difficult, but… There was nothing I could do to defeat the Demon King perfectly. I had to trust that the Black Knights and the other expedition members outside would endure well.

That’s how I took advantage of the little leeway I had to calculate the expedition members’ levels, experience, and the timing of acquiring new skills, but something didn’t match my expectations.

“It’s strange…”

“What is?”

Asked Meyer immediately. I mumbled, rubbing the tip of my chin.

“A colony of demons is missing.”

“… A colony?”

Meyer was surprised. I looked back at my memory of the ground and drew a map.

“Yes. Originally, we would have had to encounter spider-type demons again in the southeast cave we had just passed through…”

“We didn’t.”

As much as anyone knows that my memory is correct, Meyer’s face also became serious.

“I wonder if the Demon King, realizing we were deliberately raising our experience level, bit the monster?”

“Do you think he’s gained that much control?”

“I don’t know. I think it’s the same for the Demon King, who has to buy time…”

Meyer shook his head as if he didn’t understand.

The reason the Demon King deliberately opened the gate and connected the demon world with the earth was to regain his power.

Just as shadows are created only when there is light, nothing can distinguish what is shadow and what is darkness in the darkness.

The same was true of the Demon King.

The Demon King indeed had huge magical powers, but ironically, he needed the energy of the human world as much as his magic to use his own.

Without the energy to take over, it would be nothing more than a mere lump of magical power, and there was a danger that the Demon King would also be swallowed up by the magical power, if only somewhat.

Therefore, the Demon King opened the gate and gave humans to the demon world, and sent demons from the demon world to take over.

It was fortunate that it was more efficient for us to gain experience from demons than for the demon king to gain energy from humans.

At any rate, I hope it wasn’t a big deal…

I clicked my tongue at the unexpected situation.

***

After clearing the dungeon stages one by one, we finally reached the center of the Demon King’s Castle dungeon, the main building where the Demon King was located.

Creaaaak.

With a dull thud, the huge, much taller doors opened.

The door, the size of a handful of hands, gradually opened to reveal the main building. A huge hall that looked like it had been carved out of a cliff.

On top of the stone pillars that supported the walls were pieces of gargoyles that watched over them as if to keep an eye on them below.

I moistened my hardened mouth at the sight that was not a bit different from the first round.

And for the first time in all of this, the Black Knights stepped cautiously inward with each step, remaining vigilant as they lifted their weapons.

Once fully cupped, the open door slammed automatically shut.

Then a fire flared up in the wall stop.

One after another, the stops were lit up along the walls.

As such, gradually pupils became clearer and vision began to be discerned.

At the end of the flames was the throne of the Demon King.

A huge and menacing throne that looked as if it had been carved out of one side of a cliff. There the Demon King sat, motionless, like a sculpture.

He was covered from head to toe in black, like a huge black wall.

The Demon King slowly opened his eyes. Even his sclera was black, so it looked like two red moons were floating in the night sky.

The Demon King opened his eyes and laughed. Even his open mouth was black.

[It’s you again, Knox.]

The Demon King’s voice growled as it echoed in my head.

As the structure resonated with the magi’s wavelength, not the wavelength of the air, every time I heard his voice, my skin became numb.

Again? I felt a strange part of the Demon King’s words, and I raised my eyebrows.

“What?”

Meyer was also perplexed by the incomprehensible statement.

But the Demon King did not answer and stretched out. His crowning black, spiky horns threatened to reach the ceiling. That was how huge and majestic the Demon King was.

The Demon King walked down from his throne step by step. His black wings hung to the floor like a cape.

[Thousands of years ago, the spirit of your ancestors who did not step back even before me in front of the expedition was truly admirable. So much so that it gives me the glory of choice in the subject I choose to keep my power hidden.]

“Glory? You have a talent for making curses sound different.”

Meyer mumbled as he chewed. His golden eyes shone like those looking at an irreconcilable enemy.

But the Demon King did not care.

[Yes, I knew you’d say that. You haven’t changed much.]

“You’re pretending to know me very well.”

[I do know you. I know you very well.]

The Demon King remained calm at Meyer’s sarcastic remark.

[It’s not our first time meeting, Meyer Knox.]

It was a completely unexpected answer. While I was immersed for a while, trying to figure out whether the words were true or metaphorical, the Demon King kept on speaking.

[I knew I made the right choice when I chose your bloodline. You came before me again out of necessity, and thanks to you, I have the opportunity to conquer the world once more like this!]

Then the Demon King chuckled. I got goosebumps all over the flesh from the loud waves of mana.

The Demon King kept saying incomprehensible things, but the important thing now is not to uncover the truth. There was nothing good about having a long conversation with the Demon King.

Otherwise, the conversation would have started to confuse other people, as if there was some sort of relationship between Meyer and the Demon King.

“Commander.”

I caught Meyer. Then he shook his head. Finally coming to his senses, Meyer kept his lips pursed and his reddened eyes shining.

[Why? I guess it’s hard for your subordinates to hear?]

However, it seemed that he had no intention of following our intentions, and the Demon King pulled his lips into a pinched smile. I could clearly see his black heart.

[Indeed. It’s not easy to say. That my power is in your blood, and that you are the originator of all this calamity.]

He’s decided to make a mess of things, hasn’t he?

I clicked my tongue low. Sure enough, the others were clearly upset.

“Originator of this calamity…?”

“What does he mean, power of the Demon King in his blood….”

Not only did the trio and Axion look confused, but even the cautious August looked confused.

The “Demon King” was not an easy phrase to hear.

Even though the Black Knights were loyal to Meyer, Meyer’s possession of the Demon King’s power was another matter.

So far, I have kept it secret from other expedition members. I thought it would be all right.

‘I didn’t know the Demon King was so talkative…!’

It wasn’t to this extent in the first round when Fabian came. We went into battle right away…

Contrary to expectations, I clicked my tongue in a low voice in the situation that was going around.

[Meyer Knox, your birth allowed me to gradually gain strength and open the door to the magical world, and in a situation where I was being pursued and somewhat defeated by the humans, I was able to use the extra magi I had in you to turn back time.]

I caught a glimpse of Meyer. His face had gone white. It was as if all the blood in his body had evaporated in a fury.

The pressure was like violence from an overwhelming force of arms that felt absolutely intimidating.

But it was meaningless to the Demon King. The Demon King went on, convinced of his victory.

[And… Now you will be absorbed by me and a great force to conquer the human race. So, how can I not thank you for your precious devotion!]

“I don’t think anything has changed in terms of thinking things will go according to your plan.”

I took a step forward, shaking off the Demon King’s words.

For the sake of Meyer’s mental health, which was not very solid even for free, I could not let the Demon King go off any further.

And finally, the Demon King’s gaze reached me.

Even though I had eaten the Dragon’s Pearl and increased my stats, my magic defense was not outstandingly high. Even the mere sight of the Demon King’s gaze on me gave me chills and made me jumpy.

But having experienced it once, I could withstand it more easily now than the second time.

I feigned composure and said to the Demon King.

“You’ve had a hard time once. Will it work out as you plan this time, too?”

[You…]

The Demon King’s red eyes frowned. It seemed that my appearance was casual.

But still, I was one of the last 7 members of the first round…

The Demon King laughed, perhaps recognizing me belatedly.

[I remember. You really line up well, too. I can’t believe a supportive wizard would stand on the throne of glory against the Demon King twice.]