Chapter 287

Dristan's appearance further enhanced the prestige of the Great Ceremony; that demon, who had lived for just over four centuries, was not one to venture far from his territory, yet now he was present at the Great Ceremony.

He had appeared in only two wars, making a strong impression on both demons and humans.

Shortly afterward, the dreaded Persec Merliano appeared.

Dristan Mircaz approached Persec Merliano, and they struck up a rather natural conversation.

Some time ago, many believed that Persec Merliano supported Mart Sevec because of a master-disciple relationship, but now there seemed to be a deeper bond.

As the Great Ceremony was just minutes away from beginning, the answers began to emerge like pieces of a puzzle.

...

The seats on the right, which were still empty, were the first to be filled when Mart Sevec's wives entered.

They all wore a golden, translucent veil that elegantly covered their noses and mouths.

They were all elegantly dressed in beautiful gowns made by Mrs. Loretta.

Mart's wives were accompanied by maids dressed in black; the maids carried Mart's children in their arms.

Each child wore a golden necklace that concealed their Ranks from prying eyes.

And none of those present dared to extend their demonic perception toward the demon babies.

Even so, some demons were able to recognize Persec's granddaughter, which allowed them to immediately understand the reason for the close alliance between the director of the Danteriar Academy and Marquis Mart Sevec.

However, another question arose in the minds of others—one they preferred not to voice...

...

When every demon was in its place,

the bells of the "Temple of Secrets" rang once.

The High Priest stood at the back of the hall, near the altar,

holding a dark book in his hands.

At the sound of the bells, all the demons present stood up.

"You may be seated; Alvat will not forget the respect shown," were the solemn words spoken by the High Priest as he placed the dark book on an elegant wine-red lectern adorned with gold.

All the demons bowed and then sat down again.

"Tonight, with Alvat as our witness, a glorious ceremony blessed by the grace of our mighty Demon God Alvat will take place..."

The High Priest's words echoed through the room, growing ever more solemn.

The Open Dark Book was a book that Professor Helen had given to her husband.

And so, after reading that book, Mart placed it in the hands of the High Priest of the "Temple of Secrets."

When the High Priest finished speaking,

a silence that lasted a minute settled over the room.

And after the silence, the Temple bells rang out once more.

...

Everyone stood up again.

A handsome and imposing demon with dark red horns, white skin, blue eyes, and reddish hair was entering through the temple's main door.

That demon wore an elegant blue-and-red robe with gold trim.

Everyone could feel the power of the Eighth-Rank demon.

That demon was Mart Sevec.

He walked until he stood before the High Priest, then bowed, resting one knee on the floor.

Everyone knew it: Mart Sevec wasn't bowing to the High Priest; he was bowing to the Demon God Alvat—or so the vast majority of those present concluded.

"You have decided to shoulder a great responsibility.

A very heavy burden.

Before Alvat, you swear not to dishonor the title you will hold."

All the demons lowered their gaze, some of them tense.

Some sensed a strange and mysterious aura in the air.

In a solemn voice imbued with mana, Mart Sevec replied:

"I swear, I will honor the title I am about to receive."

"May the grace of Alvat be with you.

The one and mighty Demon God bears witness to the birth of the Demon King Mart Sevec..."

At that moment, the clouds in the sky grew dark.

And a powerful, demonic presence spread over the "Temple of Secrets," and from the Temple of Secrets throughout the rest of the Severian Kingdom.

[An Ancient Demon has acknowledged your title]

[You have received the grace of Alvat]

[Unbreakable Pacts:]

[1. When making any pact, oath, or contract with other parties, those parties are bound to comply]

[2. In the event of a breach, they will pay the consequences]

[3. You will learn of the treacherous intentions of those who have made a pact, contract, or oath with you]

"Son of Alvat, faithful follower; rise up—from now on, on earth and beneath the heavens, there will be no demon beneath the King."

After those words, the High Priest bowed in respectful reverence, and Mart stood up.

And at that moment, the bells of the Temple of Secrets rang out.

And the demons present, moved by the mysterious power that enveloped the kingdom, bowed respectfully before the one they recognized as their King.

...

In the territories beyond the borders of the Severian Kingdom.

Republic of Argariz.

The army led by Councilman Granz Zelf came to a halt on the orders of Granz Zelf, who stepped down from his sumptuous demonic vehicle.

Sweat trickled down the Councilman's face.

He was deeply terrified.

He felt an inexplicable fear after sensing the mysterious demonic power in the territory of what is now the Severian Kingdom.

...

In the Human Territory.

The reaction of terror was the same.

Everyone had sensed the power of a Transcendental-level presence based on current power rankings.

For Supreme Commander Olbert Venzick, who commanded the imperial army, this was an almost devastating blow to the morale of the soldiers under his command.

Olbert Venzick remained calm, but he could see the fear in some of the commanders present.

The power of that mysterious demonic energy was such that even ordinary humans sensed it and felt as though their souls were about to collapse.

Fear drove people to pray to the Infinite Heavens.

Amid that commotion, in a Gothic castle nestled among towering mountains, Lenard Trismegistus walked out onto a balcony.

"An Ancient Demon," Lenard murmured calmly as he conjured a necklace with seven diamonds into one of his beautiful hands.

Three of them were gray, and four were blue.

But at that moment, one of the blue diamonds began to glow.

In the human realm, an ancient and imposing cylindrical tower appeared, seemingly reaching up to the heavens.

Following the tower's appearance, the tyrannical power emanating from that mysterious demonic presence was driven back from human territories.

Among the witnesses, some bowed respectfully toward the imposing tower; and among the common people, many prayed with a faith that bordered on intense fanaticism.

...

But in the main hall of the Temple of Secrets, the demons present wondered, not daring to speak, "What course would follow that tyrannical display of power that blessed King Mart Sevec?"

But before they could find answers,

They saw Mart Sevec walk toward his children.

He kissed each demon baby on the forehead in the order in which they were born.

At that moment, only the high-ranking demons understood the meaning of that gesture.

Order of succession to the throne.

The demon babies seemed comfortable.

Mart reached out his arms toward Persec Sevec, and the baby stretched out his tiny arms.

Mart picked him up and walked out of the temple.

Outside the temple, the demons who had been unable to enter bowed to Mart Sevec.

Mart nodded and then levitated upward, until he reached the dark clouds.

The baby babbled happily.

Mart nodded as he watched his son having fun.

Mart closed his eyes, and when he opened them, they had taken on a bright purple hue.

[Skill Activated: Demonic Deity]

Mart didn't waste a single one of the 10 seconds.

Using the grimoire written by Emy, he unleashed boundless demonic energy, with which he erected a "demonic formation" along the borders of the Severian Kingdom and the Human Territory.

To erect this demonic formation—which consisted of intricate barriers, spells, and "minor demonic formations"—Mart had to demonstrate his profound knowledge of demonic magic and his immense demonic power.

All the High-Rank demons had emerged from the temple and witnessed the complex demonic diagrams appearing in the distance along the aforementioned borders.

"Is this the ability of a transcendent demon?" murmured Dajem Ertrael, barely containing the profound impression that scene left on his mind.

He wasn't the only one impressed.

The demons who answered Mart Sevec's call felt relieved that they hadn't refused.

The emotions of the various demons were complex and varied.

But they all agreed that Mart Sevec was worthy of being called a Demon King.

A trickle of blood oozed from one of Mart Sevec's nostrils.

"Just a little more," Mart thought as only one second remained.

But just when it seemed he wouldn't be able to create the Great Demon Formation, a power flooded through him.

[The Ancient Demon Alvat is bestowing demonic power upon you: Temporary Effect]

Mart sensed the peculiar nature of that demonic power, which was on a completely different level compared to the power he possessed at that moment.

But since it wasn't the time to dwell on it,

Mart focused on finishing the construction of the Great Demonic Formation.

And he succeeded three seconds later.

At that very moment.

Mart heard an ancient voice that vanished instantly after expressing its approval.

Beyond the Great Demonic Formation—which was nearly invisible unless someone tried to pass through it—one could see the human territory and, beyond that, the dark horizon.

"You see, my little son?"

The baby babbled and, with one of his little hands, seemed to want to wipe the blood from his father's face.

"I'm fine, my little mischievous one."

Mart looked toward the horizon, and the baby followed the direction of his father's gaze.

"In the future—whether near or far—everything beyond this formation could be yours."

The baby clapped his hands happily.

Mart nodded.

And at that moment, system notifications appeared.

[You have made a strong impression on the demons.]

[You have made a strong impression on the humans.]

[You have made a strong impression on the beastmen.]

[You have been recognized as a Demon King: System Reward]

[You have changed the history of the Demon Territory: System Reward]

[The future of the demons will be closely tied to your decisions, Host]

The End.