Supreme Monarch

"Just get to the point Nullen."

"Very well, why don't you just renounce your rights to the throne if things turn out not to align with what you have said. After all, I would absolutely hate it if you were to forfeit your life for this so we'll have to make do with this."

Hearing those words come out of the fourth prince's mouth, the air in the hall shuddered as gasps of shock and surprise reverberated across the hall.

"What the hell do you think you're saying Lord Nullen! That's not something for you to decide by yourse—"

"Fine."

"...Huh"

"I Nox Kaisax Zorak, the third prince of the Zorak family will endeavor to accept the consequences of my actions. If by some miracle I am Erin, then I shall renounce my rights to the throne as well as my title as a Demon Marquis."

Although the members of the Great Five treated their direct descendants as royalty, that title was only for show as it could only be applied to the descendants of the demon king who was the only true royalty in the demon continent.

As for the Great Five, while their direct descendants could be called princes and princesses, their actual ranks is depent on their current strength and achievement to the family.

"What!!!"

Nox's response to Nullen's absurd request was almost instantaneous as Campil's words were stuck in his throat, unable to complete the sentence for a moment. Processing the sudden development, he immediately tried to dissuade Nox from agreeing to such a ridiculous notion.

Although Nox was only Considered the third prince and therefore only third in line for the title of Great Demon Lord. His was a birthright that could not be taken lightly as the only one that had authority over the heritage of the throne was the current acting Great Demon Lord, Marline.

"Lord Nox, please don't be hasty. Tour birthright is not a matter that should be handled so carelessly."

Nox had made his declaration with his pride on the line. His pride as a direct descendant of the Zorak family was perhaps his greatest strength and probably also his greatest weakness.

This was something everyone here was completely aware of including Nullen. And it looked as though his plans had gone exactly as he had hoped.

"That's enough. I am a demon noble of the Great Zorak family, I do not go back on my words."

"As expected of my elder brother. How admirable you are. I'm completely in awe."

With a gracious smile, Nullen swung his feet back and forth from his seat, unable to contain his excitement as Nedi sighed disappointedly but made on remarks.

"Grand Elder, please stop this before it gets out of hand. We cannot allow such a situation to continue."

Seeing as he was getting nowhere with the boys, Campil turned to Marline who hadn't shown any interest in the situation so far as it looked as though she wasn't even paying attention to their bickering.

However, she did not ignore him as her gaze shifted and she calmly reacted to Campil's words as she, for the first time today, turned her gaze towards her sons while speaking in her usual tone:

"So Nox, what actions do you advise the family should take next?"

Disregarding the issue completely, Marline quickly returned the conversation to their main points as Campil and the elders, could not help but sigh in resignation.

If the Grand Elder didn't see any problems with her son's schemes then there was nothing any of them could do about it. The best course of action right now was to finally decide on how to proceed with the mysterious behemoth before his faction in the Darknar region grows any further.

"Ah yes. Due to the misunderstandings of the other four Great families. And the fact that the public is slowly becoming aware of this behemoth's achievements despite our Interference, we cannot simply act recklessly. First, I propose we make use of those commoners that call themselves Hunters in investigating this new city as well as its surroundings as sending any more scouts any time soon would surely lead to problems along the way."

"Lord Nox, have you forgotten that entrance to the Darknar region is forbidden. If we were to publicly send commoners in there what will the masses say about us."

"I am very aware of that Elder Campil. However, it has come to my attention that a lot of the freemen hidden in the surrounding regions have been crossing the borders to seek asylum in this new city being built. I'm afraid our ban on that region has already been rendered useless by that behemoth's recent display of strength as he might as well have claimed that region for himself. We can no longer simply just exert our influence to deal with him. Unless of course, the Great Five are able to unify and suppress this behemoth which is the ultimate goal of my plans."

"Is that correct. Is a mere behemoth not even one of the Primodials capable of rivaling us."

"Did you not receive the shortened report Elder Grey. That is indeed the case. As we've come to find out, that behemoth not only has enough power to rival a Great Demon lord just like the other primordials but he also possesses enough military might to go to war with any of the Great Five."

"Indeed. And while he might not win with his limited forces. He has enough might to severely cripple us. That in itself is more dangerous that the Primodials."

"If it truly is as Elder Campil had said. That's even more of a reason why we must find the traitor amongst the five quickly else our hands we be tied."

*sigh "Elder Grey, I'm afraid you're missing the point yet again."

"What!?"

"Do you really believe that such a powerful behemoth would be willing to become a pawn even if it's for one of the Great Five?"

"Well, Umm..."

"Demons of that caliber are prideful creatures. Even if a family was able to convince him to work with them, don't you think it's more likely he's working with other behemoths instead. They do tend to hold a grudge against nobilities you know."

"You do have a point. However, sending commoners into the Darknar region will only serve to undermine the Great Five's authority. We may even be branded the traitors for this."

"That is of no consequence. Hunters are not under our authority and as long as we placed the request discreetly, we cannot be held accountable for their actions. Plus, with the current state of the Darknar region, I'm sure the other families are considering the same plan."

​ "Is that so."

With Nox's explanation, not even Grey or Campil could refute his proposal as they all remained silent and left the rest to the Grand Elder.

"Very well. If no one here opposes Nox's plan then let us proceed.."

As she spoke in a decisive tone, her eyes swept across the seats of the highest-ranking nobles of the Zorak family, and in response, they all cpolitely lowered their heads in a show of submission.

With no one voicing any opposition, her gaze then slowly settled on the seat at the far end of the table where an elderly man that seemed to be in his forties, sat quietly with his head lowered the entire time.

"Aur, if I recall correctly, Winged City is the closest to Darknar region, am I correct?"

"Ah yes, that is correct your Grace."

Startled by being addressed directly so suddenly, Aur answered nervously. To think someone like him would be acting so disgracefully in the presence of so many nobles.

However, it could not be helped. This had been his dream since the very beginning. Being in the same room as all these powerful people not to mention even seating at the same table as them. That had been his goal this entire time yet this was completely different from what he had imagined.

Frankly, he was the weakest and lowest-ranked noble amongst everyone here, and thus, their combined presence alone was placing and enormous pressure on him. Not to mention a few of them hadn't even bothered suppressing their auras which were sending shivers down his spine.

His only saving grace was that he could not sense the aura of the Grand elder as that might've killed him instantly. He never expected to fill so out of place amongst the inner circle of the Zorak family, the peak accomplishments of his ambitions.

Worst of all, he had no idea why he had been summoned here today. Normally, these types of briefings were beyond his level and if he had something to report, he was expected to use the hidden chambers in his office in contacting the elders.

The greatest fear in the world was the fear of the unknown and Aur could not help but have a bad feeling about the reason he was invited here but as far as he could recall, he hadn't made a mistake yet. Or at least, not one that warrants this level of attention from the Grand elder herself.

Even though he had lost one of his Ghosts in the process, he had managed to eliminate the greatest thorn in his sight, that pesty Zomatsu which would've been his greatest blunder so he could not figure out the teasing for his summon even after tasking Aika with investigating the reason.

As Aur's mind wandered about trying to figure out his purpose here, Marline's cold words immediately snapped him back awake as she continued speaking to him.

"In that case. Gather your highest-ranking Hunters and do as my son had suggested immediately. Understood?"

"O-of course your Grace, but Umm... I'm afraid that may not be possible at the moment."

"Viscount Aur, are you by chance talking back to the Grand Elder? Know your place!"

Sensing the hesitation in Aur's voice, Elder Grey rapidly grew impatient and berated the lowest ranking noble in their midst. As every Elder was a Demon Duke and Duchess, the rest of the inner circle of the Zorak family compromises of only Demon Marquises and Marchioness.

Not even Earls were allowed into their circle so Grey could not understand why a mere Viscount was summoned here today.

"Huh, no of course not Lord Grey. It's just, I'm afraid most of my city's highest-ranking Hunters have gone missing only a few weeks ago and we are still in the process of sending out a rescue team for them but as the Magic institute has refused to cooperate in assigning their strongest magicians to the quest, the progress has been rather slow."

"Gone missing?"

Marline's interest grew suddenly as her eyes settled firmly on Aur's face. Causing him to stand up rather abruptly.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Hmm, right. I sent a report about it last week but basically, we received a report about an unexplored Grade 3 Gold mine about 3 weeks ago in the Farbelt's pass and organized an exploration party of our strongest Hunters, some merchants, and miners. However, we haven't received any words from them after they had entered the mine to clear out the monsters. This had also caused a bit of commotion in the city as the ones to report the mine has suddenly gone missing."

At Aur's words, silent murmurs arose amongst the nobles as they wondered about the specifics of the situation.

"Is that so. Well if your strongest Hunters were killed from just a Grade 3 mine then perhaps they aren't the best for the job. Grand Elder, I think it's best to task another city with this. Perhaps Silverwing."

Although Grey was suggesting his city's Hunters for the job. Marline didn't pay any attention to him as she replied to Aur calmly.

"What makes you think the Magic institute is capable of rescuing a theme compromising of the strongest Hunters in your city."

"Well, according to reports, the magic institute just acquired two very capable mages. One of which defeated the vice guild leader in a duel and the other became a V.I.P merchant is only a his first transaction."

"Hmmm... interesting. And who might these two be?"