Chapter 983

Going to the Demon Realm was easy, as it was possible for Siegfried to open the gate leading to the Seventh Domain thanks to the Avenger. However, the gate was small, making it difficult for numerous people to pass through it, and he had to pay two hundred Soul Coins as a fee for using the gate.

[Alert: The gate leading to the Seventh Domain of the Demon Realm is open!]

[Alert: Each entry will cost one hundred Soul Coins!]

[Alert: You have paid one hundred Soul Coins!]

[Alert: You have paid one hundred Soul Coins!]

[Alert: Passage fee for two has been paid!]

Then, a crimson red gate appeared before opening to reveal a portal.

“

Kyuuu!

Will we be fine, owner punk?! You’re weak in the Demon Realm! The demons are ridiculously strong!”

“I have no choice. Besides, there’s nothing I can do about that. It’s their homecourt, so they will have the advantage.”

“

Kyuuu!

I guess you’re right!”

“Anyway, let’s go.”

Siegfried was aware that he was not considered strong in the Demon Realm. Even a low-ranking demon would be strong enough to toy with an elite knight if they were in the Demon Realm.

To begin with, demons and angels possessed ridiculously overpowered stats. Their true powers were sealed whenever they descended into the human world, but they suffered no such restrictions back in their realm.

Thus, Siegfried would be equal to a low-ranking demon—no, a mere slave if he crossed over to the Demon Realm.

‘

Well, it’s not like I've ever backed down from a fight just because my opponent is stronger than me, right?’

he thought.

This trip would serve as a challenge that would further forge his grit and resolve.

“Stop being a worrywart, and let’s go.”

“Kyuuu!

Got it!”

With that, Siegfried and Hamchi stepped into the gate leading to the Seventh Domain of the Demon Realm.

Flash!

The portal unleashed a red flash of light and—

[Seventh Domain: Yellow Forest]

—A notification popped up in front of Siegfried’s eyes.

“Yellow Forest?” Siegfried muttered as he looked around his surroundings.

True to its name, the Yellow Forest was filled with trees that resembled Ginkgo Trees with yellow leaves during fall.

Ding!

A string of notifications suddenly popped up in front of Siegfried’s eyes.

[Alert: The Demon Realm is suppressing you!]

[Alert: All of your stats have been reduced by 20%!]

[Alert: Status Ailment!]

[Alert: You have been afflicted with Lethargy!]

[Alert: You will never get rid of Lethargy while in the Demon Realm unless you turn into a demon!]

Siegfried was suffering a penalty in the Demon Realm for being a human, just like how the demons suffered one when crossing over to the human world.

“

Tsk...”

Siegfried clicked his tongue after checking the notifications. However, he decided that there was nothing he could do about it and just thought that it was the price to pay for barging into someone else’s turf.

“If this is the Yellow Forest, then I should run into a lumberjack’s cabin, where I will meet our point of contact.”

“

Kyuu!

Let’s hurry up, owner punk!”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

With that, Siegfried and Hamchi ventured through the Yellow Forest.

***

Creak...!

The prison doors swung open.

“

Geez...

Look at the state of you.

Keke!”

Baroque sneered at Metatron, who was bound spread-eagle against the wall.

In the end, Metatron had fallen right into Baroque’s trap and was now his prisoner.

“Baroque...” Metatron groaned.

Having endured brutal torture for days, he barely had the strength to lift his head.

“Isn’t it about time you surrendered, brother? Form a soul contract with me and bring me the Avenger. How much longer do you plan to hold out?”

“...”

“Surely, you’re not planning to leave the Avenger in the hands of a mere human instead of your own kin, are you? Really?”

Baroque relentlessly tortured and pressured Metatron, demanding that the Avenger be given to him.

This was the only reason why Baroque kept Metatron alive. Stealing Avenger from Siegfried was not easy, so he intended to force Metatron to do it instead. However, there was no way Metatron would comply with Baroque’s demands.

“

Heh...

Stop wasting your time, brother.”

“What did you say?”

“I will never bring the Avenger to you,” Metatron said with a bloody grin, glaring at Baroque with a gaze filled with scorn.

“

Hm?

”

“You are the worst son in the history of the Seventh Domain. Not only did you commit patricide, but you even allied yourself with that devious snake, Dantalion. Do you even realize the depth of the sins you’ve committed?

"I’d rather see the Avenger in the hands of a human than let a wretch like you have it.”

“So you insist on being stubborn until the end, eh?”

“Just kill me. The only thing you’ll get from me is my worthless life, not the Avenger,” Metatron said resolutely.

Even under the merciless torment, he remained defiant and refused to break.

‘

Father... I’m sorry for being such a disgraceful son...’

Metatron was sneering and putting on a bold front on the surface, but deep inside, his heart was bleeding with immense sorrow.

‘

I should be the one to cut down that traitor and avenge you... but... I think I’ve failed... At the very least, I will not yield. You never raised me to be a coward, Father...’

He never imagined that he would end up like this upon his return to the Demon Realm, carrying the gifts he received from the humans. All he wanted was to visit his father, pay respects to him after so long, and share the gifts he received.

By the time he arrived, however, it was already too late.

Baroque had already slain Vernas.

For Metatron, it felt as if the sky had collapsed on him. Yet, instead of avenging his father, here he was, imprisoned at the hands of his own brother, his father’s murderer, Baroque.

“

Kekeke!

Very well. Let’s see how long you can keep resisting, brother,” Baroque said with a laugh.

“Give it up. You will never have the Avenger.”

“Well, we will see about that. But, you know...” Baroque said, trailing the end of his words. Then, he flashed a wicked grin and continued, “You are truly a failure of a demon, brother.”

“A failure, you say...”

“I just received word that Chaos has returned to the Seventh Domain to rescue you.”

“...!”

“Chaos... A lowly bottom-feeder, isn’t he? But still, I guess he is the most devoted to you among all of your subordinates, right?

Kekeke!

Hmm... I wonder how you will feel if he dies because of you?”

“Baroque! You bastard—”

“And that is exactly why you’re so pathetic,” Baroque said with a chuckle. Then, he shook his head and added, “You’re far too soft for someone who’s the son of a demon lord. Do you still not understand, brother? It’s the survival of the fittest! How can you be so weak, even on the verge of death?

Tsk, tsk...”

“Baroque! You!”

“Well then, I’ll see you again soon. And next time, I’ll come with your beloved Chaos.”

Leaving behind those words, Baroque left the prison.

“Damn it, Chaos... Why did you come to save me? You can barely protect yourself, and yet... why... why would you...?”

The thought of Chaos being captured next crushed Metatron’s spirit. He had already lost his father, Vernas. Now, he had to watch his most loyal subordinate be slaughtered before his very eyes.

His heart shattered into pieces, and he wished for nothing more than death.

***

Meanwhile, Siegfried followed the map through the Yellow Forest until he arrived at the location of the lumberjack’s cabin.

“

Oh?

Is that the cabin?”

He headed straight for the cabin upon spotting it and knocked on it.

Knock! Knock!

“Hello? Anyone inside?” he called out.

“Who is it?” A voice echoed in response and someone peeked out.

[Balag]

[A high-ranking demon of the Seventh Domain.]

[As the greatest warrior of the Seventh Domain, even Vernas treats him with respect.]

[He has since retired and is now living a quiet life in the forest.]

[Type: NPC]

[Race: Demon]

[Gender: Male]

[Level: 550]

[Age: 754]

[Class: Demon Slayer]

[Title: War God]

The demon, Balag, appeared to be a strikingly handsome middle-aged warrior. As expected of a demon, he had bat-like wings sprouting from his back, and his skin was a shade of violet.

“

Hm?

”

𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Upon realizing that the visitor was a human, not a demon, Balag’s expression turned to one of curiosity. It was no surprise, as encountering a human in the Demon Realm was an extremely rare occurrence.

“You look like a human...” Balag muttered.

“Yes, I am. My name is Siegfried van Proa. To be precise, I am a human from another world. People like me are called Adventurers,” Siegfried replied.

“Oh?”

Siegfried gestured toward Hamchi and introduced him, “And this here is my friend, Hamchi. As you can see, he is—”

“A Great Spirit,” Balag recognized Hamchi immediately. Then, he said, “A Great Spirit and a human... That’s quite the unusual combination. Now, tell me, why have you come to see me? Few know that I reside here.”

“Well, the one who sharpens his blade for vengeance,” Siegfried said carefully.

It was an abrupt statement that was seemingly unrelated to the flow of their conversation, yet Balag’s expression instantly hardened in response to it. Then, he responded, “Shall revel in the ecstasy of his enemy’s blood.”

It was an exchange of a secret passphrase—the only command that could summon Balag, the retired warrior, back into service.

“What has happened? For a human like you to know that phrase... I suppose something grave must have occurred,” Balag said, keeping his gaze fixated on Siegfried.

“That is...” Siegfried proceeded to explain everything that had transpired so far.

He recounted how Baroque had staged a coup and killed his own father to seize the throne. He also told Balag about how Metatron was now in peril.

“What?! That damned bastard! Baroque!” Balag roared, visibly shaken by the news.

Whoosh!

Dark violet energy surged from him, and its intensity was so fierce that Siegfried could feel his skin being pricked.

“That ungrateful wretch...! The law of the strong governs the Demon Realm, but sitting on the throne is more than just power! To think that he would dare to assassinate Lord Vernas...!” Balag roared, trembling uncontrollably and unable to suppress his rage.

“P-Please, calm down for now,” Siegfried stammered.

“Calm down?! You expect me to calm down?! That half-baked prince doesn’t even have the Avenger in his hands!”

“

Haha... Hahaha...”

“I will tear that damned fool apart this instant—”

It was then.

‘

Huh?’

Siegfried suddenly heard something approaching at high speed and instinctively turned to that direction.

“

Kyu?”

“Hm?”

Hamchi and Balag seemed to have noticed it as well, as both of them turned toward the same direction.

‘

What was that?’

Siegfried wondered.

Just as he started to wonder—

“

Huff! Huff!”

“We have to run faster!”

“They’re closing in on us!”

In the distance, three familiar figures appeared.

Chaos, Michael, and Shakiro.

Coincidentally, the trio had also ventured into the Demon Realm in an attempt to rescue Metatron from the clutches of Baroque.

Siegfried felt reassured after seeing them, but there was a problem.

“After them!”

“Don’t let them escape!”

“Catch them!”

“This is our chance to kill an archangel!”

Behind Chaos, Michael, and Shakiro, over two hundred demon warriors were chasing after them at terrifying speed.