Mr Devourer, Please Act Like a Final Boss

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Chapter 11

“Looking for a silver-haired woman? Don’t worry. I’ll assist you in finding her by your side.”

“You don’t need to go this far… But thanks. By the way, weren’t you the owner of that Demon king’s castle? The dungeon and all that?”

“Are you concerned about me? I appreciate the sentiment, but you needn’t worry to that extent. I am a Demon king, born to rule. The form of a Demon king’s castle is not important. Where I am is the domain of demons, and all the demons around me are my legion.”

“Is it some kind of Demon king’s power? Like, you can gather nearby demons just by your will?”

“That’s right. Although I’ve never tried it.”

“Is that really okay?”

“My father did it too. I can do it… probably.”

Quite the inexperienced Demon king, isn’t it? That last ‘probably’ was particularly irritating.

Doubts began to creep in, but not wanting to dampen Melje’s confident demeanor, Devourer murmured a small ‘wow’ in response. Whether it was due to feigned praise or not, Melje’s lips lifted slightly.

Well, if that’s how they see themselves, then so be it.

“…Well, that’s one thing. Actually, the castle that my father passed on to me was partially destroyed by what happened earlier… I honestly didn’t feel good about it, not at all! Being so close to the capital of the human empire is tough.”

“Apologies for the destruction of the castle.”

“Watching the stars at night is quite romantic, but I regret not having a hobby of basking in the sun during the day.”

The culprit behind the partial destruction of the Demon king’s castle quietly shook its head.

—

The road to the heart of Riaze was farther than expected.

Fortunately, there was no concern about getting lost. Almost every road in Riaze was leading toward the city’s center. Red flags reappeared whenever they seemed to fade from view. The massive castle sat centrally, guiding with red flags.

Although the view of the castle diminished the further they moved away from the center, obscured by misty walls, it was enough to gauge its immense size.

It was incomparable in size to Hastin, the peripheral baronial seat.

Undoubtedly the dwelling of the human empire’s head.

Melje and Devourer were heading toward the center of the empire for a simple reason. Unable to walk all the way to Hastin, they might have the only means to reach Hastin within the inner central castle of the empire.

“‘Teleportation Hub,’ it’s called, a human invention that compiles magical and alchemical advancements. I’ve never used it, so I don’t know much, but it’s said to be a device that forcibly triggers spatial transference magic. It might be of help to Sir Devde.”

Above all,

“If you’re gathering information, there’s no better place than the heart of Riaze.”

Melje’s chest-puffing statement was bold. Though the action of puffing out their chest bothered Devourer, the words weren’t wrong, so Devourer nodded.

Given that it was the center of the human-made empire, there would likely be a wealth of information.

Of course, being far from Hastin in Riaze, the chances of finding Rene’s traces were low. But on the contrary, it couldn’t be affirmed that there were no traces of Rene in Hastin.

The idea was ‘if Rene had fled to another dungeon or place.’ To anticipate where they might have gone, it was most convenient to inquire in Riaze and then proceed.

“There’s also a place in Riaze that compiles information on all dungeons within the empire’s territory.”

Considering those possibilities, regardless, it was necessary to visit the heart of Riaze. Considering the mishap of spatial displacement, it was fortunate.

Their journey through the streets was quite bustling. The constant gazes felt amidst the crowd was taxing for both of them.

With a stature tall enough for most human men to look up to, Devourer had slightly tousled black hair. The angular jawline made them appear to be in their mid-twenties.

Despite wearing a somewhat shabby and impoverished appearance, the polymorphed Devourer was undeniably handsome. Slightly torn features complemented their slight gruffness, exuding a rather fierce charm.

Though Devourer considered themselves oddly shaped, borrowing Melje’s words, it seemed that in humans’ aesthetic standards, they definitely fell within the handsome category.

Accompanying Devourer closely, Melje was equally beautiful. Though hiding wings and horns, the figure-hugging dress they wore couldn’t conceal their curves, showcasing contours that nobles often preferred.

The contrasting heights, ages, and attire ended up accentuating them even more. Passing through the crowd, they felt the continuous stares of onlookers. Murmurs here and there were as annoying as mosquitoes, making the sensory experience quite uncomfortable.

Oddly enough, it was Melje, not Devourer, who frowned in frustration. How many times have they commented on such a mundane topic? Humans certainly needed population control, contemplating such remarks, Devourer just smiled.

Actually, opening their mouth might result in an upset stomach.

After an arduous journey, Melje brought Devourer to a tavern.

“Innkeeper, two glasses of beer, please.”

“Um, Melje? What exactly are you doing?”

“Ahaha, Sir Devde, fret not! I’m capable of affording a beer for a helper like you!”

“No… that’s not it. We have a long way to go, and wasting time in a place like this…”

“A clear mind comes from a clear body. To think clearly, one must have a clear body…”

Does drinking beer make the body clear?

“…Please don’t look at me with such a scary look, Sir Devde. I was joking just now. Right here is our first destination.”

During a brief exchange, two large glasses were swiftly placed in front of them. They arrived so quickly that Devourer suspected they might have canceled the order. Nonetheless, without any hesitation, Melje raised her glass to take a sip.

“Do you not know much about human villages, Sir Devde? Taverns are a gathering place for information! Look around, listen. All these conversations happening. They’re raw, unprocessed nuggets of information. You just pick what you need. Simple, isn’t it?”

She laughed heartily, seemingly incongruent with her appearance, and took another sip of her beer. Despite whatever disdain she held for humans, it seemed Melje enjoyed their beer.

“Picking what I need… You make it sound so easy.”

Curious, Devourer tried the beer but immediately put the glass down, clearly not to his taste. He looked around as they sat in a place quite different from the taverns in small villages like Hastin.

The space was at least six times the height of an average human. Stairs rose up to the third floor, and the whole ambiance exuded an artistic vibe.

Water flowed between skillfully placed stone sculptures, and groups of people sat among them, discussing business or contracts, as Devourer could gather from the repetitive words ‘revenue’ or ‘agreement.’

“What’s that?”

Devourer, scanning the surroundings, noticed something and got up from his seat. Melje, despite trying to finish her drink, followed his gaze. Devourer walked to the far end of the first-floor tavern corridor, where a wall displayed rows of paper.

Lists of dungeons within the empire, or dungeons allowing access from other countries, were documented here. They categorized dungeons based on various factors, recommending a number of participants and detailing potential rewards.

Occasionally, at the bottom of some dungeon descriptions, were the names of various expedition parties. To prevent conflicts, it seemed these lists served to avoid simultaneous entries by multiple parties.

“That’s the list of expedition parties for each dungeon. To prevent clashes, you see. It’s because conflicts arise when they distribute rewards.”

“Which is good for us.”

“Us? Is Sir Devde also a dungeon-bound demon? By the way, there was something I wanted to ask. Even if you’re one, how come you freely roam outside the dungeon?”

“It’s complicated… Can we just let that go?”

“You hide a lot, Sir Devde. Well, there must be reasons. Okay, I won’t ask anymore.”

As Devourer scanned the list, his attention was caught by seven red sheets. They were placed at a height even Devourer, with his considerable height, had to reach for. The familiar writing caught his eye.

[The Seven Great Evil Dungeons, ‘Primordial Core.’]

Boss: ‘Ancient Monster’ Devourer

‘Oh, that’s my place.’

Devourer smiled unconsciously, feeling an unexpected sense of joy. Melje reached out her hand as well, but since Devourer was engrossed in the paper, she didn’t manage to touch it.

“What?! What are you looking at so intently? I want to see too! Don’t be selfish, show me!”

Watching Melje’s gestures for a moment, Devourer finally extended the red paper toward her. Taking it in her hands, the small demon was engrossed in the contents. Her eyes widened gradually as she read.

Suddenly, she turned to Devourer with an excited voice.

“Ha! The Primordial Core! I know everything about this dungeon! Sir Devde, it seems you’re interested too! This is my favorite dungeon, the Primordial Core! If you have any questions, ask me! I’ll tell you everything!”

Seeing Devourer’s surprised expression, Melje cleared her throat and began explaining.

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