Chapter 103

Chapter 103. Demon God of Vice (2)

Sariwon.

A city located in northern Hwanghae Province, and a major transportation hub between Kaesong and Pyongyang.

In that sense, it could be said to serve a similar role to Cheonan in South Korea.

After Pandemonium occupied the North Korean region, the Eastern Region Second Command was established in Sariwon.

If Pandemonium's forces in North Korea intended to invade the Capital Region, they would gather in Sariwon before advancing toward Kaesong.

"..."

Phenex, commander of the Eastern Region Second Command, stood inside the headquarters building and looked out the window.

It had been five years since Sariwon's full-scale redevelopment began.

The city, which had been reduced to ruins during the war, had been rebuilt by Pandemonium into a magnificent planned metropolis.

Demons had originally been skilled in architecture to the point that they developed a corner of Hell's brutal environment and built an enormous palace there.

Sariwon had now flourished into a vast city lined with grand buildings.

"Look at those streets."

Phenex spoke as he gazed down at the city.

"Not only the demons who make up the ruling class, but also corrupted fiends, distorted fiends, and various other races all live together there. Every one of them spends their days with vitality in their eyes."

Phenex smiled in satisfaction.

"Truly splendid. Pandemonium is flourishing."

He continued.

"Since ancient times, our domain lay in Hell. We built our nation, Pandemonium, but Hell was undoubtedly a harsh land. After a long passage of time, we finally escaped Hell and succeeded in taking possession of the human world. We made this blessed land our territory."

Phenex spread both arms.

"We have acquired vast territories, but it is not enough. It is time to end our period of rest and resume the war of conquest. Many Demon Gods at the Demon God Assembly agreed that our first step should begin here in the Far East."

The Demon God Assembly.

It was a conference that only the Seventy-Two Demon Gods who led Pandemonium could attend.

Its origins went back to the distant past, when Pandemonium was first founded and the demons gathered to decide their future strategy.

Now it was held year-round in what could be called Pandemonium's capital, with major Demon Gods constantly participating.

In effect, it functioned much like a parliament.

"As preparation, we used our collaborator to create disorder behind enemy lines."

He was referring to the zombies Ha Mina had unleashed throughout Hanam.

Ha Mina had several assigned roles, and one of them was to create a massive zombie outbreak in the Capital Region in coordination with Pandemonium's invasion.

It had been triggered earlier than originally planned, but more than ten thousand zombies were still more than enough to throw the enemy's rear into chaos.

"Now is the perfect time. We should summon the legions and immediately march south."

After saying that, Phenex slowly turned around.

"So why has the operation still not been approved, Belial?"

"..."

Behind Phenex stood a brown-haired man.

He wore a black suit that looked like something humans would wear.

He was an extraordinarily handsome man.

Elegant and sensual at the same time, he gave off an abnormal level of allure capable of awakening desire regardless of age or gender.

"I don't understand why you're asking me that, Phenex."

Number 68 among Pandemonium's Seventy-Two Demons.

Belial.

As a "King" with command authority over eighty legions, his rank was higher than Phenex's title of Marquis.

Yet Phenex glared at Belial without hesitation.

"Because you were at the Assembly, and therefore you should know better than anyone why approval was postponed."

"True. You couldn't attend the Assembly because you were preparing the operation."

"I cannot move the legions without approval!"

Phenex raised his voice.

"I returned to Sariwon intending to launch the invasion in earnest, only to find a notice saying the Assembly had postponed authorization! What exactly happened?!"

"If you look through the minutes later, you'll see that I wasn't present when that agenda item came up. So I don't know the details. Perhaps they simply decided to observe the situation a little longer before making a final decision."

"Are you seriously saying that?"

"What do you mean?"

"Did you interfere behind the scenes?"

"Me?"

"You have feared full-scale war since long ago. Ever since we first fell into Hell."

In the distant past.

When the fallen demons debated whether or not to resume their war, it had been Belial who opposed Moloch's call for battle.

"I merely made a rational judgment. I believed it was better to preserve what we already possessed than to fight a battle we had no chance of winning."

"That same logic could apply now, Belial."

"..."

"I hear you've been making enormous profits through trade with humans in various regions."

"That was approved by the Assembly."

"If war resumes and we completely defeat humanity this time, you'll lose those interests."

"So you're saying I'm obstructing the war?"

"Isn't it possible?"

"Phenex..."

Belial placed a hand over his chest.

"I swear upon my soul. I act only for the glory of Pandemonium."

His voice was solemn and sincere.

But Phenex knew better than anyone that Belial was the most eloquent demon in Hell.

"As long as your idea of Pandemonium's glory and mine may differ, such an oath means nothing."

"That's fair."

Belial smiled bitterly.

"In that case, Phenex, let me give you one piece of information."

"Information?"

"Yes. Something to keep you from getting bored while waiting for the Assembly to approve the operation."

"Hmm. Go on."

"Soon, humans will trespass into our territory."

"What?"

"They intend to strike first, before we attack them."

"Madness."

Phenex found the idea absurd.

"You think that's possible? With humanity's current strength?"

"It seems they intend to infiltrate with a small elite force."

"A small elite force?"

"Phenex, we occupy a vast territory, but we don't manage every inch of it densely."

"That's... true."

"Even if you include corrupted fiends, distorted fiends, and the other races under us, our numbers are still far below humanity's. So if a small elite team slipped in and moved covertly..."

"Are you saying they intend to ambush us?"

"Exactly."

"Ridiculous."

Yet even as he said that, Phenex's expression became serious as he stared at Belial.

"Explain in detail."

Belial was undeniably a demon steeped in vanity and difficult to trust.

But he was also the demon who possessed the most information about humanity.

Phenex had no choice but to listen.

"Very well. I'll explain in detail."

Belial's lips curved into a seductive smile.

"I'll tell you exactly how those courageous humans intend to infiltrate our land."

"Nameless King, what are you going to do?"

Number 49 spoke from beside me while I operated the observation device.

"Are you planning to accept Belial's proposal that came through Ma Taesu?"

"..."

"Move along the route he designated, eliminate Phenex's subordinates, and ultimately infiltrate Sariwon to kill Phenex... That's Belial's plan."

Ma Taesu had informed Kang Yujin and Joo Minha of Belial's plan.

In order to prevent a full-scale war with Pandemonium, they would assassinate Phenex, the commander of the front line.

"Doesn't this feel like a trap?"

"You think so?"

"Of course! It's way too suspicious!"

Number 49 raised their voice.

"Even if Belial is making huge profits from trade with humans, trying to kill his fellow Demon God Phenex makes no sense!"

"Doesn't it?"

"Of course not! If word got out that he plotted something like this, Belial himself would be in danger!"

That was certainly true.

"He'd probably be condemned as a traitor and purged."

"Right. That happens everywhere."

"Then..."

"Even so, there's nothing to worry about."

"What?"

I continued operating the observation device in front of the confused Number 49.

"By the way, Nameless King, what have you been doing this whole time?"

"Looking over Pandemonium's territory."

The old North Korean region and the western coastline were under Pandemonium's control.

I was scrolling north across the displayed screens.

"Nothing's showing up."

"That's true."

The farther north you moved from the Capital Region, the more blurred the display became.

Once you approached major cities such as Pyongyang, Kaesong, or Sariwon, the image became so distorted that nothing could be distinguished.

"Areas where Pandemonium's influence is strong can't be observed through the device."

"What principle causes that?"

"No idea. Even I don't really know..."

Barren outskirts and empty regions could still be viewed.

But anywhere large numbers of demons were likely gathered became invisible.

In other words, even Constellations could not properly see what was happening inside Pandemonium.

"..."

Without saying anything, I scanned the western coastline next.

Outskirts like the place Kang Yujin's group had briefly visited in the past were clearly visible.

But once again, all major areas were impossible to observe.

"Anyway, Nameless King, why did you say there's nothing to worry about?"

"Because I've already made plans."

"Plans?"

"Yes."

I took my hand off the observation screen.

Then I placed it on Number 49's shoulder.

"Number 49."

"N-Nameless King? What's wrong?"

Number 49 shrank back in confusion.

"You've worked hard because of me."

"I mean... I have worked pretty hard..."

I'd used Number 49 to create a large amount of content.

Thanks to that, my channel and Jason's channel enjoyed overwhelming popularity on Constellation Tube.

Many imitation channels had appeared, but they were still nowhere near Number 49's editing skills.

"I'm genuinely grateful."

"W-Why are you suddenly saying something so embarrassing?"

Number 49 turned away, face flushing.

I spoke gently.

"So, Number 49."

"N-Nameless King..."

"I'd like you to take on a new job."

"What?"

Number 49 looked caught off guard.

"I want you to act as a special correspondent."

"A special correspondent?"

My head was already filled with ideas for new content centered around infiltrating Pandemonium.

And to make that content work, Number 49 would need to perform a slightly different role.

And...

There was someone I needed to meet before we began.

Splash...

Listening to the waves, Belial sat on a nearby rock.

He was currently inside a coastal cave on the southwestern shoreline.

At high tide, seawater flooded the cave.

But during low tide like now, the water receded and allowed passage inside.

A thick fog covered the area outside the cave.

There was a city controlled by Pandemonium nearby, and the energy released from it drifted out toward this area.

That made this place ideal for avoiding attention.

Even Constellations couldn't observe it.

"..."

Belial waited silently.

This place held considerable meaning for him.

It was also one of the few places tied to memories of someone he had once considered a "friend."

And yet the person he was meeting today had specifically chosen this location.

Belial still couldn't understand what that was supposed to mean.

"...!"

He sensed a presence outside.

Someone was approaching through the fog.

"You're late. Two minutes and seven seconds past the agreed time."

Checking his wristwatch, Belial rose to his feet.

He turned toward the figure emerging from the mist, curious to see their face.

And the instant he did...

"...!"

A King with command over eighty legions.

A symbol of vice, most worshiped in times of chaos.

A demon among demons, one who loved vanity and pursued lust.

The great Demon God Belial trembled.

"You're... alive?"

The words barely escaped his mouth.

"I thought you were dead. I thought you had died alone and in pain on a rain-soaked wasteland."

There was an emotion in his voice that seemed almost unbecoming of a demon.

Affection.

"But you didn't die. You changed your face... and hid yourself."

Belial slowly nodded.

"And the fact that you've come here means... that S-rank Constellation chose you. You've escaped that useless D-rank Constellation, haven't you?"

Belial reached out toward the human man standing before him and smiled.

"This truly makes me happy, my weakest friend."

A handsome man in a black suit was staring at me with genuine emotion.

Looking at him...

I remembered what had happened when I died.