My Reflector Is Invincible

63. To Inform

Far away from the dukedom, in a hidden den of the mazoku. There, blood and screams ran rampant.

Kyaaak!

Mazoku were dying from the sudden enemy ambush.

They couldn’t even resist against the overwhelming power.

It was only natural.

“Lord Hailouzen! Why!”

“I am your subordinate……”

No matter how much they begged, the enemy’s hand was merciless.

A sharply transformed hand cleanly sliced through the wall along with the mazoku.

Screech!

In an instant, the mazoku, who had lost half of his body, collapsed, bleeding.

“Wh…… why……”

Thud!

Hailouzen, the eighth-ranked mazoku.

He was carrying out the orders of Joo-yeon, who was considered the Demon King.

“I was told to bring proof of my loyalty.”

The black blood of the demons who follow the last Demon King should be enough.

There may have been some who served me, but I didn’t feel particularly sorry.

The Demon Realm is a place where only power matters.

Hairouzen licked the blood on his finger.

Slightly.

“As expected, the blood of the enemy is sweet. What do you think? Will you be my opponent this time?”

At that moment, a strong energy burst out from the hideout.

It was a demon carrying a human woman on his shoulder.

He was ranked 5th. Moroltia of ＜Lust＞.

He growled with his eyes narrowed.

“What are you doing now?”

“I am following the orders of my new master. He told me to bring him proof of my loyalty.”

Moroltia’s expression twisted.

A new master.

But there was something more important than that right now.

“Then we’ll continue this later. You haven’t forgotten what day it is today, have you?”

“Today? Ohhh…”

It was really a coincidence.

It was the day of the annual meeting of the high-ranking demons.

“Well, even if it’s a meeting day, there’s nothing special.”

It was a time for demons scattered across the continent to communicate.

One could say that they shared their strategies and schemes.

It was also a time that Hairouzen usually looked forward to the most.

Because everyone was waiting for his strategy.

‘Originally, I was just going to kill him and go somewhere else, but… this isn’t bad either.’

He planned to make a declaration here.

That he had become the new Demon King’s first subordinate.

That he would kill anyone, even a demon, who tried to interfere with his master’s will.

Hairouzen turned his sharp claws back to their original state.

At that moment, light poured out from the communication orbs in the hideout.

The black magic power of the other ranks appeared.

[From the looks of it, it seems you’ve already had a go at it.]

[What is this? You’re giving your heart to a human, Hairouzen.]

[You’re pathetic for a rank 8.]

They all criticized Hairouzen.

They said that it was too impulsive a choice for a rank 8 demon in charge of strategy.

[No, it was just a plain stupid choice. What if he’s really human? What if he’s really a hero?]

[Are you planning to betray the demons, your race, by pawning your life to a mere human?]

It was then that everyone began to hurl sharp words of criticism.

Hairouzen opened his mouth with an eerie look in his eyes.

“I don’t care, but if you insult the master once more… I’ll tear that mouth of yours apart.”

[……!]

It was a murderous intent so potent that it sent shivers down their spines.

Despite the unimaginable distance between them, they could feel its presence.

The lower-ranked mazoku trembled in fear.

Only then did Hyleuzen smile.

“And don’t worry. If he turns out to be human or a true hero, I’ll gladly offer my life to you.”

[……!?]

Their faces were etched with shock.

Mazoku revered the logic of strength above all else.

The reason they followed this logic was simple:

It was for their own safety.

Following the strong was the surest way to guarantee their own survival.

And among them, Hyleuzen valued his own life the most.

So they couldn’t help but ask,

[How can you be so sure?]

“Because I saw it with my own two eyes.”

[What? You only met that disciple of the Great Sage at the gambling den. He didn’t show anything special there…]

“No, no. That wasn’t it.”

Then where did they meet?

In truth, the first time Hyleuzen laid eyes on the protagonist was in a completely different place.

It was the place where Count Sanderson died.

It was a forbidden place where even the former heroes’ barrier couldn’t reach.

“When those foolish humans broke the seal, I thought it was our chance to resurrect the Demon Lord.”

Of course, he wasn’t foolish enough to go where the Sword King was. That’s why he sent his subordinates disguised as mazoku among the demons.

He planned to seize the heart while the foolish humans were fighting and use it to resurrect the Demon Lord.

But then, he witnessed something unexpected.

“I was truly amazed.”

– Die and be useful.

Those cold and merciless eyes as he crushed the heart.

And the way he ruthlessly dominated his opponent, showing no mercy.

“Ah… That man is the true Demon Lord. He is the one I must serve.”

Hyleuzen trembled at the thought.

However, the other mazoku seemed to think differently.

[Is that all it took for an eighth-ranked mazoku like you to switch sides?]

[If he’s a true hero, then it’s only natural.]

The other ranked mazoku were furious.

No matter how great the Demon Lord was, he was just a fragment of his former power. They were confident that they could defeat him.

[After all, he’s been weakened for 50 years because of the Holy Sword.]

[Even if we’re not ranked in the top ten… If we’re in the top hundred, we should be able to defeat him…]

“Do you recall? The Prophecy of the Demon Tribe. The contents written in the Book of Hell.”

[……!]

＜Book of Hell＞

A book left behind by the sage of the Demon Tribe, who was an aide to the first Demon King.

A holy book of the Demon Tribe, said to have its cover made from the skin of humans and its text written in blood.

However, the Demon Tribe remained indifferent.

[What of it? What does the first Demon King have to do with a mere human?]

“‘His body is cloaked in a dark radiance that mocks his enemies. Those who defy the Dark Lord shall be destroyed by their own power.'”

“……!”

Having said that, Hairouzen turned around, a meaningful smile on his face.

“How pitiful it must be for those who have not witnessed his power.”

Soon, the other members of the Demon Tribe narrowed their eyes.

[No matter what you saw, that cannot be proof that he is the Demon King.]

“Indeed. I have yet to confirm one thing myself.”

There was no need to ask what that was.

‘Black Wings.’

Not the ordinary bat wings of the Demon Tribe, but beautiful wings deserving to be called ‘dark wings.’

They were the symbol of the first Demon King, who was said to be the strongest among all the Demon Kings.

However, it couldn’t be that, could it?

Secretly regretful, Hairouzen smiled cruelly.

* * *

“Dark wings……. Black wings!”

Haken exclaimed at the black wings that emerged from Zhu Yan’s back.

Zhu Yan had finally equipped the completed item of ＜North Wind＞.

At first glance, it seemed like a simple shoulder armor covering one shoulder.

However, the moment he wore it and activated the skill.

[＜Black Heaven Armor＞ has been equipped]

[Legendary Power: This is a defensive item containing ＜North Wind＞]

[You can use the unarmed skill]

His equipped appearance changed.

Suddenly, huge wings spread out from his back.

They were not bat wings like those of the Demon Tribe.

Haken’s eyes widened.

“Wow, that’s amazing.”

He looked like an archangel.

[＜Black Heaven Armor＞ spreads its ＜Black Wings＞ according to the will of its master]

It wasn’t just the appearance of wings.

Whoosh!

The wind skill of the North Wind lifted Zhu Yan into the air on its own.

[The unique ability of the Black Wings, ＜Levitation＞, is being used]

[Item equipment effect increases basic movement speed]

[Increased chance of evading opponent’s attacks]

It was a comprehensive piece of equipment that combined mobility and defense.

‘For now, basic mobility is complete.’

Although it consumes a lot of stamina, it didn’t matter.

＜Reflection＞ is not an ability that requires stamina.

Moreover, the greatest advantage of [North Wind’s Armament] was not its mobility.

That was just a bonus.

[Armament Skill: ＜North Wind＞ is activated]

[North Wind’s Armament] responded to Joo-Yeon’s will.

His eyes turned blue, and the cloudless sky changed.

Rumble!

In an instant, dark clouds gathered and hail fell with a cold wind.

Joo-Yeon controlled his power, so no natural disasters occurred.

However, there were casualties.

Thud!

“Ouch! Kid! Can’t you aim properly?”

A hailstone hit Dae-Ho right in the head, who was standing right next to him.

He shouted at Joo-Yeon with a bump on his head.

“You bastard! Are your eyes in your ass! Why are you dropping hail on someone right next to you!”

“Ah, sorry. It was a mistake.”

“Mistaaake? Who the hell drops hail on someone’s head by mistake….”

“Well, mistakes happen. How uncouth.”

Then, Dae-Ho stood up as if he had made up his mind.

“I was already annoyed at having to listen to you, and now you’re hailing on me. I can’t take it anymore!”

Dae-Ho’s hand had a black hand that wasn’t there before.

It was the hand he received from the Dwarf Kanlo.

Now that he had his hand back, it meant that he would no longer be swayed by Joo-Yeon and would leave.

However, Joo-Yeon chuckled.

‘What, I thought you’d do that.’

The Knight King had clearly told him not to mess with Joo-Yeon and to cooperate.

However, there was something Dae-Ho didn’t know.

‘I deliberately used the power of ＜North Wind＞ to provoke that bastard in the first place….’

Joo-Yeon’s eyes glinted dangerously as he looked at Dae-Ho.