The ruined battlefield lay silent.
Scorched earth steamed faintly under the sky, and fractured stone still crumbled in slow, reluctant avalanches. Razul stood amid the devastation, chest rising and falling as he watched Loki and Rain hover in the air, their presence alone warping the space around them.
Just as they turned to leave, Razul spoke.
"Before you leave… can I ask you a question?"
Loki paused midair and glanced back over his shoulder, crimson eyes glinting with mild curiosity.
"Well, you did at least give me a good fight, so sure," Loki said casually. "What's your question?"
Razul hesitated, mandibles tightening slightly before he spoke again.
"It's not so much a question… more like a confirmation." His gaze sharpened. "Loki, right? You wouldn't happen to be a Primordial Demon… would you?"
The wind seemed to still.
Loki stared at Razul for a long moment, expression unreadable. Then, without warning, he raised his thumb in a relaxed gesture and grinned.
"You're quite smart, Razul," Loki said. "Yes, I am a Primordial, though my circumstances are… a bit special."
Razul felt cold sweat slide down his back.
'I knew it.
There was no way a normal Archdemon could push me that far.'
His fists clenched unconsciously.
'So Guy Crimson has three Primordials working under him…
What kind of joke is this?'
Rain drifted closer to Loki, her expression tightening.
"Let's go back to the Castle, Loki."
Loki waved her off.
"Wait. I'm not heading back yet."
Rain frowned. "What do you mean?"
Instead of answering her directly, Loki turned toward the demon army hovering in the distance. Four hundred demons of the Red Lineage froze as his presence bore down on them.
"Everyone," Loki commanded, his voice carrying effortlessly across the sky, "return to the North. This instant."
Not a single demon hesitated.
Wings beat in perfect unison as the army scattered, retreating without a word. After witnessing Loki's power firsthand, none of them dared question him.
Loki turned back to Rain.
"I've got some scores to settle here," he said lightly. "You can head back."
Rain's eyes widened.
"Are you crazy?" she snapped. "Guy-sama specifically ordered me to make sure you return to the castle so you don't go rampaging everywhere!"
Loki tilted his head and smiled innocently.
"Rain," he said, "do I really look like someone who would go on a rampage?"
Rain didn't hesitate.
"YES!"
Loki clicked his tongue in irritation.
"Tch. To think my own sister has such little faith in me." He sighed dramatically. "Well, whatever. I'm heading to the Kingdom of Falmuth. If you've got a problem with that…"
His gaze sharpened.
"…then use force to stop me."
Rain clenched her fists.
'Damn it.
Cursed little brother.
You know I can't win against you… you evil, evil being.'
She exhaled slowly, then crossed her arms.
"Fine," Rain said sharply. "But I'm going with you."
Loki shrugged.
"Whatever. Do as you please."
The space around them distorted violently.
And in the next instant, both Loki and Rain vanished.
Razul remained behind, staring at the empty sky.
His jaw tightened.
'This is not good.
I need to report the existence of another Primordial to the Western Nations… immediately.'
---
Back at the Kingdom of Falmuth
Royal Palace – Training Grounds
The sharp clang of steel echoed across the courtyard.
Razen stood calmly at the center of the training grounds, hands clasped behind his back as he observed two figures in motion. One swung his blade recklessly, strikes full of power but lacking discipline.
Shogo Taguchi scowled as he finished another sloppy slash.
"Hey, you old man!" Shogo snapped. "Stop bossing me around! Why the hell do I have to do this exactly the way you say? My way's better!"
Razen didn't raise his voice.
"Arrogance will be your downfall, Shogo," he said evenly. "You must never see yourself as perfect or as the pinnacle. The moment you do, you stagnate."
Shogo scoffed.
"Like I need your help," he muttered. "Why would I listen to someone weaker than me?"
He turned and began walking away.
"I'll train myself."
"Shogo!" Razen shouted after him.
Nearby, a girl leaned against the fence, lazily chewing bubblegum. Kirara Mizutani glanced toward Razen, unimpressed.
"Hey, old man," she said. "When exactly are you gonna teach me that spell?"
Razen looked at her. "What spell?"
"The one that sends me back to my world," Kirara replied flatly.
Shogo Taguchi, Kirara Mizutani, and Kyoya Tachibana.
Three otherworlders summoned by the Kingdom of Falmuth nearly two months ago, tools meant to become weapons.
Kirara, only fifteen, had been given a promise.
If she listened.
If she obeyed.
Razen would teach her magic that could send her home.
Razen forced himself to steady his breathing.
"I told you already, didn't I, Kirara," he said, voice tight but controlled. "That spell is extremely complex. Just keep being good, keep listening to me, and I'll teach it to you eventually."
Before Kirara could reply—
All three of them froze.
A crushing pressure swept across the training grounds, invisible yet overwhelming. The air itself felt heavier, like the world was holding its breath.
Sweat trickled down Razen's temple.
"…Something's wrong," he muttered. "No, two powerful…, two powerful somethings just crossed the barrier."
Shogo spun toward him. "Oi, old man Razen. What's the meaning of this?"
He didn't get an answer.
A shadow passed over the courtyard.
Loki and Rain hovered high above them, wings spread wide against the sky. Loki wore a beaming smile, almost cheerful, as if he were visiting old friends rather than descending upon enemy territory.
Slowly, deliberately, the two descended.
Their feet touched the ground with a soft click.
The pressure intensified.
Loki's crimson eyes settled on Razen.
"Razen," he said pleasantly. "It's been a long time, hasn't it?"
Razen stiffened. "A long time?" he snapped. "Who the hell are you? I don't recall having any acquaintance with a demon."
Shogo and Kirara both felt their blood run cold.
A demon!?
Loki pressed a hand to his chest, mock-offended.
"Come on, Razen. Don't break my heart," he said lightly. "I mean, you handed me my most embarrassing loss in my entire centuries of living."
Rain, standing calmly behind him, tilted her head.
"Loki," she said flatly, "when exactly would you have run into the Court Mage of Falmuth? Why does everything you do feel so random?"
"Decades ago," Loki replied. "It's a loss I'll never forget."
Rain frowned.
'Loki… lost?
But I could beat Razen, couldn't I?
Then why doesn't this mage feel stronger than me at all…?'
Razen narrowed his eyes and studied Loki carefully.
The maroon suit.
The maroon hair.
The maroon sclera.
Memory resurfaced.
"…It's you," Razen said slowly. "That weak demon from before."
Loki laughed.
"Don't say it like that, Razen," he replied. "I just let my guard down."
His smile faded, eyes turning cold.
"Don't let that inflate your ego."
Razen chuckled.
"Well, I sent you back to the Underworld easily enough," he said. "So why are you here now? To submit to me and become my subordinate?"
He smirked.
"I wouldn't mind taking you in."
Inside, Razen's thoughts raced.
'That maroon-suited demon is no problem.
I should be able to deal with him easily.
But the one behind him…'
His gaze flicked to Rain.
Isn't she one of the Primordials under Demon Lord Guy Crimson?
What is the meaning of this…
Loki answered before the silence could stretch further.
"Become your underling?" he said, amused. "Why don't we reverse that instead?"
Razen ignored him.
He turned his attention fully to Rain.
"Miss," he said carefully. "If I'm not mistaken, you serve under Demon Lord Guy Crimson. So tell me, what are you doing here?"
His voice hardened.
"Is this a declaration of war against Falmuth?"
Inside, his heart pounded.
'Please don't be.
If Falmuth goes to war with that Demon Lord…
The outcome would be clear before the first battle even begins.'
________________________________________
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Loki meets Razen again next chapter! 😈. It's payback time.