Lynvar was still standing.
Right beside the Demon King.
His armor cracked, mana leaking like smoke, yet his lips carried that same arrogant curve. Reeve watched him carefully—every instinct screaming danger.
Then—
Lynvar's body began to dissolve.
Not blood.
Not ash.
Fragments of shadow peeled away, dispersing into the air like mist under sunlight.
Reeve's eyes widened.
"…He's dead?"
No.
Too easy.
But before that thought could settle, Reeve's attention snapped back to the figure bound before the throne.
The Dryad's master.
Chains humming with demonic runes. Her breathing shallow, yet steady.
Reeve turned his gaze slowly toward the Demon King.
"Why did you capture the Dryad's master?"
The Demon King chuckled softly, hands resting behind his back.
"Because I wanted to see how the king of a newborn kingdom looks."
Silence.
Reeve stepped forward, aura tightening.
"You've already seen me. Now release her."
The Demon King's smile widened—not cruel, but curious.
"No. I was thinking… what would happen if I killed her right now?"
The chains began to glow.
Mana surged.
The Demon King raised his hand—
And nothing happened.
---
Vanishing Authority
The throne room warped.
Space folded.
In a blink—
Both Reeve and the Dryad's master vanished.
The Demon King's eyes narrowed.
"…Interesting."
He stood up for the first time.
Without anger.
Without haste.
He began walking toward the exit of the castle.
But the moment he stepped through the gates—
A presence slammed down in front of him.
Reeve.
Standing inside the castle walls.
Blade formed of pure authority in his hand. His gaze sharp, unyielding.
"I won't let you walk away."
The Demon King halted.
For the first time—
He measured Reeve.
And realized—
"…My power is insufficient."
His chest expanded unnaturally.
A sigil burned across his torso.
Gluttony
The Demon King opened his mouth—
And devoured himself.
Not metaphorically.
His own body, mana, throne, castle—
All swallowed into a collapsing vortex of hunger.
Reeve staggered back.
"What—?!"
The demonic presence vanished.
But the demons outside…
They did not obey.
No chains broke.
No control formed.
Reeve clenched his fist.
"…I can't control them."
> Reeve: Nyx. Chances that the Demon King was fake?
Nyx: Calculating…
Nyx: 91%.
Reeve exhaled slowly.
"…Figures."
---
🌑 A Truth Buried in Flesh 🌑
He was about to erase every demon—
Then paused.
"…He was human once."
That realization stopped his blade.
Instead, Reeve searched.
Corridors. Ruins. Shadows.
A human-shaped Demon King.
But there was nothing.
No trace.
No soul.
Only absence.
---
Return to Astra Nox
Astra Nox welcomed them with silver skies.
The Dryad's master finally sat upright, wrapped in fresh robes.
Reeve looked at her.
"Did you see the real Demon King?"
She frowned.
"Huh? Real Demon King? I thought that monster was the Demon King."
Reeve shook his head.
"No. He wasn't."
Then calmly—
"Forget him. If he becomes dangerous to us, I'll handle it."
He stood up and stretched.
"Come. You should take a bath."
The room went silent.
THUD
Lunareth's fist landed perfectly on Reeve's head.
"You idiot! Go with Kaelith!"
"Ow—?!"
---
An Awkward Revelation
Later, steam filled the bath chamber.
Reeve muttered, rubbing his head.
"…Kaelith. What's wrong with Lunareth? Why did she punch me?"
Kaelith stared at him.
Then burst out laughing.
"Pfft—because the Dryad's master is a woman."
Reeve froze.
"…What?"
"I thought she was a man. Even the Dryad said so!"
Kaelith wiped a tear from her eye.
"She never said it directly."
Reeve stared at the ceiling.
"…Why do these problems always come to me?"
He sighed.
"I'll apologize tomorrow."
---
A Name Given
The next day—
The Dryad's master entered the council hall.
Her hair, like woven emerald silk.
Eyes deep as ancient forests.
Reeve stood.
"State your name."
She bowed lightly.
"My name is Sylvaen Ithrael."
From that moment on—
The world remembered her name.
Reeve nodded.
"Sylvaen. What were you doing in the Demon King's domain?"
"I was doing my duty," she replied calmly.
"And what problem do the demons have with the Health Tree?"
Her expression darkened.
"The Health Tree roots are restoring dead land. Demons depend on decay. If the tree fully blooms, their ecosystem collapses. They tried to corrupt it… and I stood in the way."
Silence filled the hall.
Reeve's eyes sharpened.
"…I see."
The game board just grew larger.