Chapter 320 C320. The Circles

The fact that the Brimstone family had someone make contact with this new demon lord was a troubling thought for them. It was already bad enough that the Morningstar family had interfered with the Gren Circle's retrieval mission of the two deserters, so the idea that the brimstone family was somehow involved with this new family would be a nightmare for them.

However, it was still a possibility that they had clashed during one of the Brimstone family's many discrete missions to the Darknar region in their demon lord's pursuit of immortality.

"I agree. We should find out the Brimstone family's stance on the matter being attempting to make use of them. Even if they're in league with this new Demon Lord, there are other ways of making use of them."

​ As everyone agreed on that proposal, someone else asked a reasonable question.

"…Now then, about the newest report about the city being built over the ruins of the fallen city of Darknar. What's the situation there? Is it by chance being used as a base for this Demon Lord to amass a larger military might?"

After hearing that question, hardly anyone could believe Ike's answer.

"We haven't received much intel from our spies that managed to infiltrate the city disguised as freemen. However, from the little communication we've had with them, the city seems to be growing in popularity with the freemen in the surrounding regions and had been growing rapidly in both strength and technological advancement."

"Awk, a city filled with those filthy pigs. How unruly. As expected from a Demon Lord whose noble blood is in question. This will be a stain on our noble lineage if we do nothing."

"Indeed. To make of city compromising of mostly freemen of heteromorphic origins is completely ludicrous. Especially in a land as rich as the Darknar region."

"What a fool. With so many lesser races living together as equals with demons, there's no way that's possible. That place must have become a sea of chaos by now. We might be able to take advantage of the chaos and incite a revolt within the city. Even if that tactic will not grant us access to the castle, it may be worth it to serve as leverage in any future negotiations."

Hearing one that, Ike simply chuckled at Sai's statement before he even bothered replying to such blatant naivety.

"Although our surveillance of the city via divination and Clairvoyance is being greatly hindered by the protective barrier surrounding the entire city, we've been able to gather enough information to know that the citizens have been living in peace so far. In fact, their ability to co-exist with each other has been the major reason why the city's construction and development have been so rapid."

"Hah?!" That sound did not fit these people at all, but it could not be helped that they made it after hearing something nobles like them could not comprehend. It was to their understanding that there had been fallen demon nobles that had migrated to the city so they could not understand how they could exist in the presence of demi-humans.

While the other noble families were not as extreme as the Alcar family and did not consider demi-humans and lesser demons as nothing more than livestock, it was still a fact that demons were considered the superior race all across the demon continent.

The only place where demi-humans could think themselves equal to demons were the regions belonging to the seven primordials, and even that place was solely for demi-humans so demons would not be caught dead there.

Hence why these 14 leaders of one of the Great Five families had a dumbfounded expressions on their faces and could not believe what they had just heard.

"Hmmm... You see, I've been in so many loud situations that at my age, I do end up hearing things that aren't there, but it seems my condition has suddenly worsened. Ike, what was that about peace?"

"It seems like the world has turned upside do overnight. I won't be surprised if the sun rises from the south or even the north tomorrow."

In the face of such a ridiculous notion that defied their faith and all they believed in, the highest-ranking members of the Alcar family could not help but turn to jabs and jokes to reduce the level of shock they had received yet again.

"…All right, enough with jokes. If Ike is telling the truth, that would be a truly unimaginable sight. Are our observers' madmen or satirists?"

"Even so, I'm sure they're being forced to leave in peace. The tension between them must be brewing. If they are enduring such nonsense for the sake of their own security after losing their wealth and regions, then I suggest we attack that security. We can start by inciting crimes in the city to raise the levels of tension even more."

Hearing the Grand Marshal's suggestion, the others nodded thoughtfully as they considered that idea. However, Ike simply sooks his head in disappointment before immediately dashing their hope yet again.

"The report states that the city is being patrolled by undead Doom Knights as well as an undead drake and countless undead night terrors. I'm also told the City's guard captain possesses an ability that lets him watch over the entire city."

Everyone's jaws dropped besides Ike's.

"Nonono, wait a minute. What? Could you say that again?"

In the face of Cain and his astonished expression, Ike did not change his words as he calmly repeated himself.

Haaah?! Once more, that same unfitting sound escaped the mouths of the 14 people seated around the round table.

They had all read the reports that there were demons and demon noble living in that city alongside heteromorphic beings and that had been a shock in itself. However, learning that they were existing in peace during the most fragile stage of their society, didn't align with anything they could comprehend.

Yet, hearing that the city was employing the undead as the guards had been a true jaw-dropper.

None of them could understand how such a thing was possible. It was important to note that the art of necromancy was considered a taboo type of magic. It was part of what was known as a Mutated or Bizzare form of Magic that uses the highly corruptive negative energy instead of nature's essence.

Thus, this form of Magic was heavily frowned upon by the entire world and not just the demon continent. It was why the previous demon king had used lesser devils as his minions during the Great War instead of creating an army of the undead.

Hence, those who practice this form of Magic were ostracized by the world and considered heretics by the Alcar family.

The last person to openly use this Magic was a Demon noble by the name of Adelt Wilderbelt. He had been forced out of power by the combined efforts of the Great Five and had ended up taking refuge in the Darknar forest after a failed experiment had turned him into the Eldar Lich, Zerahut.

However, what truly surprised them was not the fact that this new demon lord was using a forbidden Magic. Rather, it was by the mere fact that he was able to control so many undead without suffering any backlash. From the report they were given there were over 500 Doom Knights, 150 undead Night Terrors, over 50 Nightmare wolves, and a Dark Drake.

Those were a ridiculous number of undead creatures for a single demon to control without turning himself undead as Zerahut had done. Moreover, Zerahut had only been able to control that many undead with the use of a certain curse item in his possession.

Yet, this man was completely unaffected by the penalty for using Mutated Magic and appeared to have completely mastered it. This was not something they could ever hope to comprehend.

Worst of all, he was even using them as guards in a city and after so long, the city had yet to be overturned by negative energy.

"What the hell! What kind of power is this Demon using to achieve this. Is he also using that curse artifact?"

"That's impossible, that item has released all its power in the last altercation with the Demon Lord and should no longer possess such an ability."

"Even if that were the case, it does not explain why the normal residents of the city are unaffected by the presence of the undead."

The practice of necromancy requires the manipulation of negative energy which could lead to negative corruption. However, negative corruption didn't just occur during the creation of undead creatures.

As the undead was born for negative energy, their entire being emitted that same energy, and being exposed to such energy constantly would undoubtedly lead to being corrupted.

As the practice was forbidden, there weren't that many individuals capable of resisting such corruption as it was something even Great Demon Lords couldn't fully resist.

This was why the practice of necromancy had halted over the years without any significant breakthrough that led to the control of massive numbers of undead without corrupting the body of the user.

Yet, the Demon Lord apparently is capable of using this skill without suffering from any negative side effects. Even going as far as creating intelligent undead creatures.

"This is the work of nothing short of a monster."

"Undead... such feats are beyond even normal monsters."

"Speaking of monsters. After sending Boro to the Darknar region as our representatives, we no longer have the employ of any exceptional behemoths of that level, shouldn't we try to boaster up our strength by recruiting more?"

"Well, with the way things are right now, it doesn't look like there are many behemoths of that caliber that meets our requirements. As we denied the request of the Hunter Association from operating in our region— given as the majority of their Hunters are heteromorphic beings— our choices in this matter are quite limited."

Although the sudden change of topic seemed a bit forced. The others happily went along with it as they were willing to take any opportunity to worry about something less mind-boggling.

"Indeed, there ain't that many demons aiming to become behemoths these days. Thanks to the Hunter Association, those capable individuals would rather now attempt to attain a noble title by rising the ranks of the association. Because of that, those who would piously devote themselves to worshiping the demon god are rare."

"That may be true, but I don't think we require a behemoth that is a devout believer of the demon god. None of the behemoths we've hired so far have met that requirement except Lance. We should just focus on those worthy of being used by us."

"You're right. I had set my expectations too high. Let us go through the list of those already scouted for the job."

"Yes. I assume it's safe to exclude any Hunters already at the peak of their ranks. We could try recruiting them from the Sentro region if we succeed in setting the Brimstone family after them."

"Speaking of the Sentro region; I do remember a report about a certain mysterious individual that joined the Zorak Magic institute recently. With the description on him, he seems to be a capable behemoth that even Marline had expressed interest in him."

"Wait, could you please repeat that."

At the mention of the name Marline, everyone's attention was immediately piqued as they turned their head, awaiting more details about this supposed behemoth with the qualifications to work for them.

"I'm talking about the mysterious stranger that showed up in Winged city a few weeks ago in a Magic carriage. Our spies report that he had garnered the attention of the three powers ruling that city the moment he had stepped his foot in there."

"Oh right, you mean the VIP merchant known as Lix. According to the report, he became a VIP merchant after his first transaction with the merchant guild and then joined the magic institute on his first attempt."

"Indeed that's him."