Grum, who heard Alex calling out his name, was shocked.
'How did he know my name?!'
Grum doesn't remember ever telling Alex that, but suddenly something clicked in his mind.
'Those eyes!'
He recalled the feeling he got when he was stared at with those eyes; it was as if all of his secrets were left on display for Alex to see.
But he didn't get much time to think about it as he felt death whispering into his ears.
He quickly used all of his force to stand up and step back.
*Boom*
A pillar of strange red mass of energy broke the floor and shot up, right on the spot where he was kneeling.
If he hadn't used all of his power to break free of the pressure and run at the exact time, he would've disintegrated into nothingness, just like the floor.
*Shiver*
Everyone in the room, even the mythical ranked dukes and the legendary ranked kings, shivered as they felt the sheer destruction that mass of energy emanated.
It was unlike anything they had felt before.
'Is it fire, or something else?'
Many demons tried to understand what it was, but by now, all of the demons had broken out of their shock.
'Is it a fight??'
'Are we going to see the new demon lord in action on the day he's crowned?'
'I hope he dies!'
'He looks so cool when he fights.'
'He is the GOAT!'
'Fight! Fight and kill each other!'
Many demons grew excited at the thought of someone fighting in the throne room, where it was forbidden to fight.
But who was going to punish the demon lord?
So, they knew that they would be getting to see an interesting fight.
This was just how demons were.
They were trying to be a bit mannered because it was an important occasion, but looking at the scene, they couldn't stop an exhilarated grin tugging on their lips.
Alex tilted his head and stared at Grum, who was breathing heavily.
"Hah.... Hah.... Hah...."
It was clear from the sweat covering his back that he was terrified.
And it was true.
*Budump**Budump*...
*Step*
Alex paused, still staring at Grum.
He knew it was all according to the plot, and this guy was probably someone who was supposed to stall for time so that the real backup could arrive, but he still stopped.
Rohrg was a weak protagonist, someone Alex could crush at any moment, and Alex had enough authority to not face any consequences.
The same, however, couldn't be said for the ones he would face later.
What if some of them were strong enough to contend with him?
What if they had a cheat so powerful that it made them invincible?
So, Alex wanted to test how much this plot armor could help the protagonists.
He wanted to know just what the limit of the world was.
Grum heard the pause in Alex's steps, but he didn't raise his head since he wasn't permitted to do so.
"Hm."
But the next instant, as soon as he heard a hum from Alex, he hurriedly raised his head.
"My lord, in all my life I have severed the demon empire with loyalty, and I have pledged my eternal fealty to the throne.
So, please, give this old slave a chance to request just one thing from the empire."
Grum let out a desperate plea, with just one wish he wanted to be fulfilled, and Alex, not having anything else to do, decided to entertain Grum for a bit—at least until the real plot armor for Rohrg arrived.
"If you were as loyal as you are speaking of, then you wouldn't be asking for something in exchange for all those years of loyalty, but go on."
Grum, who heard the first line, bowed his head in shame, but he lifted his head when he heard the last words.
Shame was still evident on his face, and he knew that what he was doing was not something a loyal servant would do, but he had to do it.
'I can't let him die.'
To save his grandson, he was willing to sacrifice whatever fame he had earned in the past years of his servitude.
"Please forgive my grandson for the offense he committed."
Grum bowed his head again, pressing his head on the ground.
However, what he failed to notice were the frowns on the demon generals' faces.
The demon generals knew who Grum was; he was a prominent figure during the wars that they had gone through before he retired from his position.
Yet, now, that same figure, who was ready to die for the demon empire, was begging for something in exchange for his loyalty.
This was shameful behavior for any warrior, but they kept quiet.
"Hmmmm...."
Alex put up a thoughtful expression, his eyes closed, and that thoughtful hum planted a seed of hope in the heads of Rohrg, Grum, and now-up-and-standing Lilia—hope that Alex might change his mind, but before the hopes in their minds could grow larger...
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*Some gifts would be appreciated as well, but it is up to you. *