After Ten Millennia in Hell

There was no better way to describe the situation. Balrog had slammed his head onto the ground and cried out that he had missed the demon king so much.

The Demon Cultists had invested a lot into summoning Balrog. Meanwhile, the members of the Guardians had received a quest from Gaia and then made their way here to stop the Demon Cultists.

As for Kang-Woo…

'Oh, fuck.'

All sorts of insults were lingering around his mouth. He could feel everyone's gazes boring into him. They were looking at him with a mixture of confusion, denial, trust, and doubt.

Of course, most of them were trying to deny the reality of the situation. They thought that the demon from the Ninth Hell was pulling a nasty scheme.

However…

[My kiiiiiiiing!!]

"…"

Balrog was calling out to Kang-Woo even more desperately now.

From his cry, they could tell that he was genuinely elated to see Kang-Woo. It sounded so desperate that it was hard to think of it as a scheme. Balrog cried so earnestly that even Kim Si-Hun and Han Seol-Ah, who trusted Kang-Woo very deeply, were tilting their heads in confusion.

'Why now, of all times?' Kang-Woo thought.

He wouldn't have been in such trouble if he were alone like when Doomguard had been summoned.

The problem was that the people he could call his comrades were all present. The members of the Guardians, his roommate, his sworn brother, the guild master sponsoring him, captains of the Korean government's special forces, and even someone who could influence the Chinese government—all of the people who were important to him were gathered there.

'Why now, of all times?!!'

Kang-Woo grabbed his head. His mind blanked out at the unexpected development of events.

The trust he'd built through all of his acts and his title of hero… he was in a situation where he could lose everything.

'It's my mistake.'

Kang-Woo had to admit it. He should have guessed that something like this could happen when he had heard that they were going to summon a demon from the Ninth Hell. He should've expected and prepared for it, but greed had blinded him. Instead, he'd pushed a bit too far because of his desire to reach 130 in a stat.

This was something he could've avoided or prepared for. It was the fault of no other but him.

'No, but still…'

He still thought it was unfair.

There were many demons in the Ninth Hell. The number of demons had decreased after the seven princes' forces crumbled, but it was still over a hundred thousand. So, why, out of all those demons, was it Balrog who had been summoned?

'Fuck my life.'

Kang-Woo raised his head and looked around at the reactions of his allies. He had to do something before the situation worsened.

'First off…'

He thought about a way to overcome his current situation.

'The best way…'

Ultimately, the best method was for Kang-Woo to tell Balrog about the situation he was in.

'The fastest way is obviously to let him know myself.'

Moreover, Kang-Woo had to do it without letting anyone know.

It shouldn't be difficult to do considering what he had done when he dealt with Oriax. He could just send a message to his brain that only Balrog could hear.

'The problem is…'

Kang-Woo bit his lip.

He imbued his will into demonic energy and shot it at Balrog.

Swoop.

The demonic energy that reached the area around Balrog's head disappeared without leaving a trace.

It was just as Kang-Woo had expected.

'AARRGGHH.'

He ruffled his hair in desperation.

'That goddamn muscle pig.'

The way Kang-Woo sent his will through demonic energy was similar to how voice transmission worked in martial arts novels.

However, there was a problem due to Balrog's characteristics. There was a powerful demonic energy barrier on top of his skin at all times. Other demons had it too, but in Balrog's case, it was a little special. His barrier was akin to the Defensive Vajra Qi[1] in martial arts novels.

This was practically a passive ability for him; he was always surrounded by an extremely thick barrier of demonic energy. It was so thick that most demons had a hard time making one like that even if they used their full power.

In other words, Balrog was instinctively blocking out everyone else's demonic energy. It wasn't impossible to bypass his defensive barrier to send him a transmission, but Kang-Woo currently did not have enough demonic energy to do that.

'Of all the demons, why is it yooouuu?!'

Balrog's ever-present demonic energy barrier, which he didn't even need to consciously maintain, was a powerful characteristic that was known among demons as Demonic Armor. This was because it seemed like Balrog was wearing armor made of demonic energy at all times. Aside from Balrog, Kang-Woo had never seen any demon who had that characteristic.

If the summoned demon had been Doomguard, the situation wouldn't have become this complicated. Kang-Woo could've successfully sent his will through demonic energy to Doomguard and asked him to cooperate, but he couldn't do that with Balrog.

'Should I approach him and whisper?'

Kang-Woo shook his head, rejecting his sudden thought.

Everyone present had a physical capability that surpassed that of a normal human—even Seol-Ah, who was a healer. So, there was no way Kang-Woo would be able to send Balrog a message without powerful martial artists like Si-Hun and Tian Wuchen figuring it out.

'Should I let him know by mouthing it?'

However, Kang-Woo wasn't confident that he could explain his circumstances just by mouthing it. Besides, he was wearing a mask, so that made it impossible.

'I mustn't take off the mask.'

He wanted to leave his options open, such as making excuses like there was no way that demon would be able to recognize him since he was wearing a mask. Hence, he couldn't afford to take off this mask.

Kang-Woo bit his lip uneasily.

'Should I send him a written message?'

He didn't have time to do that. Moreover, Balrog didn't know how to read Korean.

'Damn.'

Kang-Woo was feeling anxious. He knew that the more Balrog talked about him, the more the others would doubt him.

'Now that it's come this far…'

He had to feign ignorance for now.

"Everyone, this is all part of that treacherous demon's scheme. Leaving aside the question about whether I'm the demon king, I'm wearing a mask. So, how could that demon have recognized me?"

"Oh, now that you mention it…"

"Yes, you're wearing a mask," Si-Hun said while nodding. "I knew something was off the moment that demon called you the demon king and praised you. It must be a wicked scheme."

"Yeah. I'm just as bewildered as you all are."

Kang-Woo was indeed bewildered.

"Well, I guess it's obvious you'd be bewildered if a demon you've never met before suddenly knelt and called you the demon king."

"I don't know what that demon, the Lord of Destruction, is trying to do, but I'm innocent."

"Hahaha. Of course, hyung-nim. That demon probably doesn't even know your name. If we ask, he'll most definitely get flustered and—"

"N-No, ahem. Just a second. Let's watch and see why he's putting on a show like that first."

"Ah, understood."

Kang-Woo's heart dropped when he heard Si-Hun suggest asking Balrog if he knew what Kang-Woo's name was.

Nevertheless, Kang-Woo had managed to extinguish the doubts the others were having by using the mask as an excuse.

'Now I just have to let Balrog know of my circumstances.'

That was the biggest issue. The problem had gone full circle.

Kang-Woo started to think desperately.

Right then…

"L-Lord Balrog! Why are you calling that retainer of a god the demon king?"

"You are mistaken! They are members of Guardians, Gaia's retainers!"

The Demon Cultists who had summoned Balrog surrounded him.

They felt confused after seeing the demon they'd summoned call a human the Demon King. Moreover, that human was a member of the Guardians, their enemy. The situation was so strange that it wasn't even funny to them; it was just tragic.

'Whoa, good going, guys!'

Upon receiving the Demon Cult's assistance, Kang-Woo's eyes lit up, and he clenched his hands into fists triumphantly. Thanks to the Demon Cultists shouting that Balrog was mistaken, Kang-Woo was able to free himself from suspicion somewhat.

"Lord Balrog! Lord of Destruction! Please, raise your head!"

"That individual isn't the Demon King! They are the greatest hindrance to our ultimate goal!"

"Please, defeat bring judgment to those hypocritical retainers of god!"

'Nice!'

Kang-Woo cheered the Demon Cultists on.

'Please, take a hint.'

He desperately wished for Balrog to notice his situation and cooperate with him.

'You've known me for a long time.'

Kang-Woo had spent more than a thousand years with Balrog. They could figure out everything about each other with just their eyes… Well, not exactly.

'Actually, I know that you're dim-witted as all hell, but please, just this one time!!'

It didn't matter how positively he thought of Balrog. He was too optimistic in thinking they knew what each other wanted without even talking.

If they truly knew each other that well, there was no way that Balrog would've offered Kang-Woo the head of a Focalor when he'd said that there was nothing to eat in Hell.

'Please, Balrog!!' Kang-Woo screamed desperately in his mind.

However, Balrog stood up and stepped on Kang-Woo's hopes. He waved his muscular red arms.

Bash!

Balrog's light swing slammed into the head of a Demon Cultist, causing it to explode.

Balrog glared down at the Demon Cultists surrounding him and roared, [How dare you make a fool out of me?!]

'Hey, Balrog,' Kang-Woo thought.

[A mistake, you say? That man is not the demon king but a retainer of a god, you say?]

'Stop.'

[Hah! I had high hopes for you humans since you worship demons, but to think you'd be this dumb!]

'Please just say you were mistaken.'

Rumble!!!

Balrog violently stomped on the ground. A huge vortex of demonic energy stormed around him. Seeing that, the Demon Cultists gasped, and their faces turned pale.

Then Balrog raised his hands, and a whip surrounded by black flames appeared. He ferociously swung the whip.

FWOOSH!!

"ARRGGHH!!"

That one simple attack turned half of the Demon Cultists into ash.

Everyone present was astonished by the power of the Lord of Destruction, Balrog. The Demon Cultists looked at him with eyes full of fear.

[Listen carefully, humans!]

'Hey…'

[The one before your eyes is the Lord of the Nine Hells! The true emperor!]

'Stop, dude.'

[The demon who emerged victorious against the seven princes of Hell and rose to become the pinnacle of all demons!]

'Please stop.'

Rumble—!!!

The earth shook.

Balrog's violent scream reached everyone's ears.

[He is Demon King Oh Kang-Woo!!]

'YOU CRAZY MOTHERFUCKERRR!!!!'

1. It is a technique that makes your body impervious to blades, arrows, and pretty much anything. ☜