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My mistake was thinking too naively about the Demon Realm’s Lord and the Demon Race.

If I go back to the inn right now, rescue the hostages, and head to another Demon King, what then?

‘Impossible…’

To fight Asmodeus and subdue him, it would take at least ten minutes.

Considering how much Heukgu and Heukrang have grown stronger over 40 years, it might take more than ten minutes.

Maybe they already have power on par with mine.

The fact that Magic Power Detection isn’t working is a serious disadvantage.

If I could sense the magic power heading to the inn, I could at least hide the hostages somewhere.

If I fight Asmodeus, a B-Class Hero and Heukrang might hold out for ten minutes.

There’s no guarantee the hostages will be safe.

“Alright. I’ll do it.”

“…Are you serious? You’re going to stop the Satan Army’s advance for mere humans?”

“You do it, you crazy bastard.”

“If it were me, I wouldn’t care about the hostages’ lives. I’d either capture them or escape to find another Demon King.”

Seeing him say that, it’s clear he’s already prepared.

The moment I try to capture Asmodeus, his subordinates will probably jump in and beat me up, or at least he’s confident he won’t be subdued by me.

Even if I go to another Demon King, if they start negotiating with Asmodeus and reject me, there’s no answer.

From the moment I stepped on this land with two teams, I was already defeated by him.

“I need assurance that you’ll guarantee the hostages’ safety and stop the Satan Army before you send us back.”

“Huh, you don’t trust me?”

“…You crazy bastard.”

For a moment, blood rushed to my head, and I almost lunged forward.

The main culprit causing this mess shamelessly asking if I don’t trust him.

It’s only natural for blood to boil.

“Just kidding, let’s write a contract.”

“…A contract?”

“The contracts used by Lords contain the power of a Demon God. The penalties for breaking them are enormous, so they’re not used lightly. You should be able to trust that.”

“With tiny, barely visible writing for special clauses, or maybe it’s just a fake contract. How can I trust you demons?”

“That contract isn’t like that. If you see it, you’ll understand.”

Snap—

With a flick of his finger, the butler produced the contract and a Dimensional Stone.

The Dimensional Stone, I asked him to bring earlier… but why was the contract in his pocket?

Did he anticipate things would turn out this way?

The Demon Realm is no longer the one I knew.

The most simple-minded snake brat is now scheming like this.

***

The human woman who ruined my reputation among the Lords 40 years ago.

That crazy woman is back.

“Quite a grand reunion after 40 years.”

“I knocked six times, and you finally come out to greet me.”

With that crazy talk.

Maybe that’s how humans in the middle realm greet each other.

Sending someone flying and beating them up, can that be considered knocking?

I might have to throw away all my knowledge about the middle realm.

It seems like it’s become even worse than the Demon Realm.

“A defeated Lord sitting in the high seat, the Demon Realm is in a fine state.”

Nothing has changed in 40 years.

His mouth is truly trash from hell.

Every word is a gem, filled with heart-touching remarks.

“Scared?”

Clearly, I got excited over that word.

And because of that, I got thoroughly beaten.

Because of that incident, I was mocked by other Lords for over 30 years, and it only quieted down recently.

Recalling that memory, my expression naturally stiffened.

“Hand over the Dimensional Stone.”

Only after losing the Dimensional Stone to that woman and Satan did I realize its value.

I used to think it was just some mysterious stone I picked up, but it’s a priceless stone that aids in dimensional travel.

In 40 years, I barely managed to gather three across the Demon Realm.

I also ordered the development of dimensional travel magic, and now only testing remains.

In the midst of that, the human woman arrived.

She used the Dimensional Stone to cross to the middle realm last time, so it’s probably the same this time.

It’s like a test subject came on their own, so I should be happy, but I mustn’t show it.

That devil-mouthed woman might demand something in exchange for the test.

“So, by the way, do you know how to draw a Magic Circle?”

Finally!

Did the tactic of handing over the Dimensional Stone and telling her to leave work?

She brought up the Magic Circle first.

“If it’s a Dimensional Travel Magic Circle, of course, I know.”

“You’ll have to draw that too.”

Her eyes sparkled when I said I knew.

Others might say it’s pretty or cute, but to me, it’s just a terrifying gaze.

40 years ago, she looked at me with those beautiful eyes and beat me up so much.

“I refuse.”

“I refuse your refusal.”

As if the answer was already decided.

Refusing the refusal was no different from a demon.

“I don’t have time to leisurely draw Magic Circles.”

“You lost to Satan, right? Isn’t this a good chance not to fight thanks to me?”

Even without Magic Power Detection, does she know my exact strength?

How does she know I lost to Satan?

If I seem weak, who knows how much she’ll exploit or bully me.

A woman more devilish than a devil.

Let’s bluff and hold out somehow.

“Me, lose to Satan? Even a passing Hellhound would laugh. I’ll hand over the Dimensional Stone, take it and leave.”

I saw her eyes waver for a moment.

She seemed to be debating whether to believe me.

Then… let’s push this angle.

Behold the acting skills of Asmodeus, the Demon Realm Lord who has grown over 40 years.

“No matter how I think about it, you’re the only answer.”

“…?”

“If you don’t draw the Magic Circle, you can’t leave.”

Finally, she showed her true colors.

I need to head to the desolate desert immediately to slow down the Satan Army’s advance, but if I’m blocked by her here, the desert will be occupied by the Satan Army in less than a week.

I spoke with a bit more force, trying not to let my trembling voice show.

“Ha, you barely beat me 40 years ago and now you’re so arrogant. In my territory, my city, my castle. Do you think you can block me?”

“After being beaten 40 years ago, you’re so bold! Do you think your face will be intact if you’re beaten in your territory, your city, your castle?”

…Damn, I was bluffing with near-perfect acting.

Did she notice?

No, that can’t be.

Let’s believe in myself a bit more, for all the demons of Asmodeus’s domain.

“Are you really going to do this?”

Please say no, I thought as I spat out those words.

But…

“I have nothing to lose. I can clearly see you kneeling and drawing the Magic Circle.”

She seemed determined to fight.

If I don’t bend here, I feel like she’ll jump out and hit me with some ridiculous technique called Demon King Punch.

“…Fine, I’ll draw the Magic Circle. But there’s a condition.”

But I can’t stop the bluffing act I’ve been maintaining.

The moment she realizes I’m losing in the logic of power, it’s obvious what’s coming next.

“A tail-dropping dog bastard setting conditions… The Demon Realm is in a fine state. So, what is it?”

…I said there’s a condition, but I hadn’t thought of what it would be.

Is this a racial trait?

Born as a snake, is my brain bad?

This is definitely not my fault. It’s my racial trait.

At that moment, a tremendous thought came to mind.

This proves it. It’s definitely a racial issue. I’m actually quite smart.

“Stop Satan’s advance.”

The best plan to solve both the Satan Army and the crazy woman.

Even a Demon God wouldn’t have come up with such a plan in this short time.

‘Ah, maybe they don’t need to think because they can cover it with their bodies.’

I liked the human’s reaction, her eyes wide with surprise.

“You crazy bastard, are you asking me to join the war now?”

If you don’t do that much, I can’t draw the Magic Circle, I bluffed.

It seemed like the initiative had shifted to me.

Unless he suddenly accelerates and decides to beat me up with violence.

“Stopping Satan’s advance seems much easier, faster, and simpler than beating you up here, doesn’t it?”

No doubt, it seemed like he was already thinking of hitting me.

“But you won’t get the Magic Circle.”

I tried to threaten with the Magic Circle, but I couldn’t stop my body from trembling.

Damn, she’s scary.

“Satan knows how to draw Magic Circles too, right? What if I join the Satan Army?”

I hadn’t thought of that.

Is this the end of my demon life?

I’ll go down in history as the worst Demon Realm Lord, beaten to death by a human woman.

Just as a surge of unfairness was about to make me cry.

One of my subordinates brought some very good news.

-They’ve brought many humans to the city. Let’s use them to pressure her.

-Oh! Can we take those humans as hostages?

-…Impossible. Most of our forces are heading to the desert, and the inn is being guarded by none other than the Demon Realm tycoon, Heukrang.

-…Why is that crazy wolf brat protecting humans?

-There were rumors a while back that the human woman made Heukgu and Heukrang into tycoons… but it’s not certain.

Heukgu and Heukrang, emerging forces from Satan’s domain 40 years ago.

They sold an enormous number of Artifacts and quickly rose to the ranks of Demon Realm tycoons.

Filling their magic power with money, learning martial arts with money. I heard their skills are immense.

-Then it’s useless information, right? Humans we can’t take as hostages.

-In this situation where Magic Power Detection is blocked, bluffing might work.

-…Got it! I’ll give it a try.

“You brought humans into the city, right? Their lives aren’t that important, are they?”

“Taking hostages? Look at this snake brat’s cruelty!”

Why are your eyes so wide?

She’s staring at me with eyes more snake-like than mine, a snake by race. I feel like I could die from that gaze.

After staring for a while, I thought about running away.

“Alright. I’ll do it.”

Damn it!

It really worked.

“…Are you serious? You’re going to stop the Satan Army’s advance for mere humans?”

“You do it, you crazy bastard.”

“If it were me, I wouldn’t care about the hostages’ lives. I’d either capture them or escape to find another Demon King.”

I was so flustered that my thoughts just spilled out.

‘Crazy bastard! You crazy bastard!’

She’s trampling on my life, trampling on my rice bowl.

She’s doing all sorts of things.

“If you guarantee the hostages’ safety and stop the Satan Army, we need assurance that you’ll send us back.”

“Huh, you don’t trust me?”

“…You crazy bastard.”

For a moment, my face turned red, and veins popped on my forehead and neck.

In my joy, words kept spilling out, and it felt like I was about to ruin everything.

“Just kidding, let’s write a contract.”

Finally, his complexion returned to normal, and I could relax a bit.

I briefly explained the contract to the distrustful human and called the butler.

The contract was simple.

Party A will draw a Dimensional Travel Magic Circle and transport Party B if Party B stops the Satan Army’s advance.

At this time, all humans brought by Party B must also be sent.

Party B cannot use any force against Party A while the contract is in effect and must diligently strive to fulfill the contract’s terms at all times.

My seal was stamped.

Soon after, his seal was stamped.

Done!

I saved my life from this crazy human woman.

And I even managed to stop the Satan Army’s advance.

I achieved the greatest feat of my demon life.

 

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