Chapter 1
Prologue
He knew all too well the terror of Demon Lord Nilgala.
The human farm where he had worked was destroyed and burned to the ground with the village where he had lived. It wasn’t until everything was over that he realized he had lost both his job and his home.
With no other options, the werewolf Kadar Donwick headed to the city in search of work.
There was no other path for him. He knew he was no longer living in a time when a business like a human farm could succeed, especially with Demon Lord Nilgala, who promoted harmony between humans and demons, actively eliminating strongholds of resistance, like the village where Kadar had lived.
Demon Lord Nilgala was also known as the Absolute Demon Lord, the most fearsome and ruthless ruler in history. All demons had to choose between submission or death.
Naturally, Kadar chose to submit.
I was getting sick of my shady business, which was pretty much like slave trafficking anyway.
About seven or eight years before, he had headed for the city built by the Demon Lord. Nilga Tide, or Demon Lord City, stood as a special zone where humans and demons coexisted, symbolizing the end of the long battle between the two races and the beginning of peace.
To Kadar, it had seemed the city was brimming with opportunities for glory.
I'll definitely make it happen. I'm going to become someone important.
Starting from the bottom was fine with Kadar. Locally, he was somewhat of a known figure, working as a bodyguard at a human farm. As a werewolf, blessed with remarkable strength and undefeated in magical combat, Kadar was confident he could climb the ranks in Demon Lord City.
Looking back, he couldn't help but despise his own naivety.
What a fool I've been.
There he was, in an alley of Demon Lord City, slammed violently up against a wall. Kadar had hit it so hard that he was practically embedded in it, having shattered the wall upon impact.
I'm going to die.
Amidst the shock, Kadar was painfully aware of his predicament. His entire body ached with a dull pain, his bones broken. Even the regenerative powers of his werewolf magic were unable to heal him further, as his internal magical energy was severely depleted.
Why was this happening to him? The answer was painfully obvious. He was weak. There were others far more powerful than him. And above all, he had betrayed his organization.
Hey, there's something I don't understand. Enlighten me, Kadar . . .
His voice was heavy with melancholy. A man in a white suit, a demon, looked down at him. A small red horn on the right side of his forehead marked him as a vampire. Kadar recognized him as Heriniro, his superior and mentor within the organization.
Why did you act so recklessly? I thought you had more sense.
Whispering the question, Heriniro took a step closer, then another, because he knew that slow steps would cause fear.
Why did you try to let the merchandise escape? Why betray me? Do you despise me that much? Do you know how much pressure I face from above? And furthermore . . .
Mid-sentence, Heriniro snapped his fingers.
Didn't you think about the consequences?
As he spoke, Kadar felt a sharp pain in his thigh. Something had pierced him. A scream burst from his throat as the pain overwhelmed him.
Agh!
It was magic. Any demon could recognize the sensation of magical energy distorting the world. Heriniro had cast some sort of spell. In that moment, that was all Kadar could understand. Instinctively grabbing his throbbing leg, he saw a crystalline object protruding from his thigh, shaped like a red arrow.
This was a Non-Autonomous Offensive Curse Bot—a piece of common magic. Yet, generating it with such speed, and while speaking, was proof of Heriniro's extensive combat experience.
Not 'agh', Kadar . . . That doesn't answer my question, does it?
Heriniro peered into Kadar's face with a gloomy look in his eyes.
Don't think you'll get off with just being thrown into the labyrinth. You're prepared for that, right?
The labyrinth he mentioned was the fortress of Demon Lord Nilgala, sprawling beneath the Demon Lord City.
It was so vast that no one had a complete understanding of it, especially now that the ruler was absent. Being forced to search for treasure in the labyrinth and bring it back was known as being sent to the labyrinth or descending into the labyrinth.
Those who plunged into the labyrinth were commonly called explorers. As far as punishments for demons went, it was one of the most severe, just short of death.
Speak up. You were prepared for all of this, right? How could you disgrace me like this? Was it a mistake to look after a fool like you?
That's not . . .
He instinctively began to apologize, but he clenched his jaw, his fangs fully grown, managing to hold back his words.
That's not it . . . The mistake is yours, isn't it . . . brother . . .
Oh?
Human trafficking is against the law. In this Demon Lord City, treating humans as merchandise is . . .
Kadar avoided Heriniro's gaze as he spoke.
It's something the Demon Lord himself wouldn't permit . . . There's a law that says not to harm civilians, isn't there?
The merchandise Heriniro had referred to were humans, used for organ or blood trafficking.
It's not right, brother. Selling off a drugged human child to settle a debt . . . hehe. That's just plain wrong. If the Demon Lord were to return, you would be in trouble . . .
As he laughed brazenly, he suddenly felt a sharp blow to his stomach. It wasn't a spell, just a straightforward kick.
The Demon Lord isn't coming back.
Heriniro laughed scornfully, his words quick and mocking.
He's been gone for five years. What honor are you talking about? Do you think honor pays the bills? Huh?
Kadar couldn't respond. The Demon Lord was indeed gone. He had established this zone of coexistence with humans, Demon Lord City, and then vanished five years ago. Rumors even circulated that he was dead.
I thought you were smarter, but clearly, I was mistaken . . .
His voice became even colder.
This is your fault, Kadar.
What?
The human child you tried to help escape. He was killed because of you.
There was a tone of superiority in his voice. Kadar opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words.
I understand that the living fetch a higher price. But sometimes, making an example is necessary.
Heriniro's voice carried a note of pride in his ruthless actions.