Chapter 124: Please Choose

"So, to what do I owe the pleasure of a great being such as you visiting me?"

inquired the demon king, a tone of casual respect in his voice.

Sipping on a drink prepared by his diligent subordinates, he displayed an air of nonchalance despite having just woken up and been greeted by an uninvited guest.

Nevertheless, he refrained from voicing any complaints, recognizing the stature of the being before him and extending the courtesy such a guest deserved.

The demon king observed the child sitting in front of him, meeting his gaze with curiosity.

A seasoned ruler with millennia of experience, the demon king sensed an underlying power in the seemingly ordinary child.

Though the child's divinity felt minuscule, an innate instinct, honed through countless defeats and a cautious existence, warned the demon king against underestimating the true potential hidden behind the façade.

Unfazed by the unexpected visit, the demon king maintained his composure. He had faced numerous challenges and adversaries over the eons, and this encounter was no exception.

The demon king's piercing gaze shifted, taking in the presence of two additional figures who had materialized alongside the child.

To his right stood a wolf—a creature outwardly unremarkable, but the demon king felt an unsettling connection, as if the wolf were consuming his very soul with its penetrating eyes.

A shiver ran down his spine, a rare reaction for a demon king accustomed to confronting formidable foes.

Beside the child stood a figure that caught the demon king's attention—an elf, or so it appeared.

Yet, upon closer inspection, the elongation of her ears fell short of the characteristic length of elves he was familiar with. A half-elf, then.

With silvery-grayish hair cascading in waves, she exuded a striking beauty that, in the demon king's estimation, could rival even the most alluring succubus within his realm.

The demon king found himself intrigued by the diverse assembly of beings that had entered his domain, each one carrying an enigmatic air that hinted at untold depths of power and purpose.

The abrupt and theatrical cough from the young boy Loki cut through the room, instantly redirecting the demon king's attention.

The demon king, now fully aware of the unusual visitors before him, maintained an air of caution as Loki, the self-proclaimed messenger, introduced himself with a disarming smile.

"Sorry for suddenly visiting, oh great demon king of this realm. My name is Loki" he said, his tone carrying a blend of politeness and mischief. Loki's hand gestured toward the wolf at his side, Fenry, whom he affectionately referred to as a "pretty good puppy." Loki's playful demeanor didn't waver as he continued, stroking Fenry's head with evident joy.

"Puppy, huh?" said the demon king in disbelief.

Loki chuckled, enjoying the subtle annoyance displayed by the wolf.

Loki's attention then shifted to the elegant woman, Victoria, standing beside him. A veiled threat accompanied his nonchalant introduction, creating an undercurrent of tension.

"And the beautiful lady over there is Victoria. She's my disciple, you see. So if you ever look at her with a hint of a lustful gaze, I'll gauge your eyes out, okay?"

The words hung in the air, both a jest and a stark warning. The demon king, fully aware of the potential consequences, felt a chill run down his spine.

Loki's seemingly carefree demeanor belied a power that surpassed mere theatrics, leaving the demon king to grapple with the realization that every word uttered held a weighty promise of dire consequences.

His paramount concern lay in uncovering the identity of this chosen one—a task that would enable him to orchestrate the timely entry of his high-ranking demons into the tumultuous fray.

The demon king recognized the delicacy of the situation. Releasing a sudden torrent of high-ranking demons from the depths of hell into the mortal realm would spell catastrophe.

Hence, the presence of a hero, blessed by the highest-ranking god, became an essential countermeasure. This hero held the power to tip the precarious balance.

As the world teetered on the brink of chaos, darkness, and negativity, the hero emerged as the beacon of hope—a manifestation of positivity destined to dispel the encroaching shadows.

Despite understanding the necessity of this delicate equilibrium, the demon king harbored a profound disdain for the role it played in the grand scheme of cosmic balance.

The influx of souls harvested from slaughtered humans promised prosperity for the demonic realm, yet it came at the cost of sending his subordinates on a perilous mission—a veritable suicide pact with the inevitable outcome of falling before the hero's blade.

"Demon king, I know you have a slight change of plans regarding the upcoming Grand Harvest of this realm, so let's strike a deal, shall we?" said Loki.

Surprise etched across the demon king's face as he processed Loki's words. "How?"

"Oh, it's nothing really. I just have a really good friend, you see, who can see through anyone's intentions. And you, my wonderful demonic friend, seem to have a pretty interesting yet chaotic idea, hahaha," said Loki with a mischievous gleam in his eyes.

"What do you mean?" questioned the demon king. His overly fearful demeanor transformed into one befitting a demon king.

His entire body morphed into darkness, and thousands of multi-colored eyes stared at Loki.

The threatening display was an instinctual response, and the demon king had no choice.

His plans for the upcoming Harvest hadn't been shared with anyone. The only one privy to the information was the primordial demon, Blair.

No information should have leaked regarding his plans. If anything got out, chaos would ensue, with gods, demons, and even the world itself coming after him.

Although he knew he couldn't defeat the person in front of him, he was prepared to face the consequences, as everything he had done was for his beloved daughter.

"Now, now, let's not get riled up, shall we? What I'm offering here is actually something that will help you. I'll explain everything later regarding how I know, but first—" said Loki in a nonchalant voice, seemingly unfazed by the demon king's growing aura of negativity.

Loki clapped his hands twice, and suddenly, four cards floated in front of him.

They landed on the small table between them, and golden runes were written on them.

As the demon king couldn't read runes, Loki snapped his fingers, and soon the demon king recognized what was written on them.

He was surprised and unintentionally spoke the words aloud.

"The God's Final Whisper" "Heroes Death" "Grand Marriage" "Corrupted Light" the demon king read each card.

"Now, demon king, please touch each card and see which scenario you would want to see happen in this pathetic sector" said Loki seriously.

He stared at the demon king with a serious expression, his divinity wrapped around his body, dwarfing the demon king's demonic aura.

The demon king just stared at the cards presented to him, still in shock and unsure of what to do.