Solo Max-Level Newbie - Chapter 412: Passage to the Demon Realm

At Jinhyuk’s words, Remia hastily added an explanation.

“Even if the gate is activated… the other side is connected to ‘our’ territory. You know, right? You also know whose orders the demons are following.”

The one overseeing the demons was Guntafer.

In other words, what Remia meant was…

Even if they entered the Demon Realm, stepping into Guntafer’s domain would be akin to jumping into a fire.

However, Jinhyuk’s response was lukewarm.

“Come on, you think I wouldn’t know that? Making a detour is nothing—just give me a bit of time.”

The necessary materials could be prepared through the coin exchange and the things gathered on this staircase.

“But! Isn’t ‘that’ time what matters? If I report that I kicked you out of here, Guntafer… no, Lord Guntafer will think this gate is secure. You’ll gain that much time.”

“You’re saying you’ll betray him?”

“Y-yes. If it means saving my life, what wouldn’t I do?”

Remia’s face twisted pathetically.

“…….”

In the Empire or Martial World, no one would abandon a sinking ship.

People willingly gave their lives to protect what they believed in.

‘Even villains had some sense of honor… but these guys don’t even have that.’

Perhaps this was just part of the Demon Realm’s nature.

Well, regardless, things seemed to be progressing quite smoothly.

If a groveling Remia could deceive Guntafer just right, Berial in the Demon Realm would have the time to secure the gate.

‘Not just connecting dimensions. Guarding them is just as important.’

The longer the expedition into the Demon Realm dragged on, the gate’s value would become immeasurable.

“Alright… You’ll be useful for now.”

Jinhyuk saw enough value to keep her as an intern.

Lowering Remia to the ground, he activated the ‘Brand of Fiery Loyalty’.

Fwoosh!

Red flames flickered from his fingertips.

“W-what is that?”

“Ever wonder why demons always betray you guys? This is why.”

If she didn’t swear absolute obedience, she’d meet her end in a blaze of fire.

“It’s not as gentle as your powers, but it’s not as painful as you’d think either. Or so I’ve heard from those who’ve experienced it.”

Probably, that is.

Sizzle!

“Aaaargh!”

A red brand was burned into Remia’s shoulder.

With that, the war at the altar came to an end.

—

Post-battle cleanup took more effort than expected.

Freeing the captive elf prisoners, treating them, and wiping out the remaining parasites in the area consumed a significant amount of time and manpower.

During that time, Jinhyuk prepared to activate the gate leading to the Demon Realm.

‘I’ve gathered the ‘Toothed Forget-Me-Nots’ and the ‘Blue Ectoplasm’….’

The last ingredient needed was the ‘Tamahal Core’.

Paragon had promised to bring it by the end of the day as payment for dropping his cosplay. There was nothing to worry about.

If nothing else, the elves had a remarkable ability to explore dangerous terrain.

“Haa.”

Jinhyuk let out a small sigh.

It had been a rough journey, but the end was in sight.

At that moment.

Pah!

Black smoke rose in front of Jinhyuk.

It was Remia, who had returned from Guntafer.

Unlike before, her sunken eyes showed the toll of significant stress.

Well, she ‘was’ a Succubus. Maybe he’d gone a bit too far.

“So? Did it work?”

“Yes. I reported that the Seven Deadly Sins’ ‘Gluttony’ and the Round Table Knights were lost, but that I managed to prevent the gate from being activated. I also said Kang Jinhyuk suffered heavy injuries and fled to the outskirts.”

The abandoned remains of T-Bone, severed in half, and Frey, lying motionless with his eyes shut.

Even the elves, scattered with fake blood, served as convincing evidence.

It was a lie that would eventually be discovered, but a week’s delay would be enough to turn the tide of war in the Demon Realm.

“Then don’t contact Guntafer for now. If you get too hasty and arouse suspicion, the contract we made will be void.”

“I-I know that much. But…”

Remia looked at Jinhyuk with a nervous expression.

“Please deal with Guntafer. If my betrayal is discovered, he won’t let me live.”

She had been close enough to witness how Guntafer dealt with traitors.

To avoid becoming another gruesome example, one of the two—Jinhyuk or Guntafer—had to disappear.

“You sure have a lot of demands for an intern. If you want that, at least bring me something useful.”

“Something useful…? What do you mean?”

“Figure that out yourself.”

Getting promoted from intern to full-time employee wasn’t easy these days.

Especially in an established corporation like Veteran Corporation, which cared deeply about shareholder welfare.

“Something… something useful….”

Leaving behind the crestfallen Remia, Jinhyuk walked away.

When deep night fell…

The final ingredient arrived.

“Huff… Huff… I-I finally found it.”

Paragon, covered in dust, handed over a glass jar.

Inside was an arthropod with sharp teeth.

The ‘Tamahal Core’.

It was a creature that instinctively moved toward areas with the densest demonic energy.

“Good work.”

Jinhyuk combined the materials he had prepared in the proper order.

The ‘Blue Ectoplasm’ and seventeen other materials broke one seal after another.

Finally, the ‘Tamahal Core’ began moving toward the demonic energy.

Vroooom!

[The Demon King’s seal weakens!]

[Five seals have been destroyed!]

Crack-crack-crack!

The chains binding the gate shattered into dozens of pieces.

At last, the gate to the Demon Realm was freed.

[The gate is connecting!]

A red glow flickered across the surface of the massive 20-meter black gate.

“W-what is this…?”

“You can take off the disguise now. From here on out, I’ll go alone, so take the other elves and make sure no one comes near this area, Paragon!”

“Ah… Huh? Wait, you mean—”

“Did you understand what I just said?”

“Y-yeah, I got it. I’ll tell the elves. But… are you really sure about this? I don’t know what this is, but it feels extremely ominous.”

Paragon seemed worried, fearing they might have triggered an even greater disaster.

However, since Jinhyuk was the one who saved hundreds of elf prisoners, he couldn’t openly oppose him.

“Don’t worry. Nothing will happen.”

Jinhyuk reassured Paragon once again.

“And you guys, make sure to guard the entrance to the temple properly.”

“Clatter. Understood, Master.”

“Yeah. If anyone tries to come in, I’ll stab them with this.”

Frey spoke casually but with chilling intent.

“Just… don’t kill them, okay?”

“Mm. I’ll stab them in a way that doesn’t kill them.”

“No, that’s not what I meant… Forget it. Fine. Do as you want, Frey.”

No matter how much he explained, it wouldn’t make a difference.

Letting out a small sigh, Jinhyuk turned and walked toward the gate.

—

The moment he passed through the rippling surface, the scenery changed in an instant.

The land was bathed in a red glow.

A desolate, barren landscape devoid of life stretched out before him.

The air was stiflingly dry.

This was the Demon Realm.

Among the floors in the ‘Tower of Trials’, this was the only one without a safe zone.

At some point, two swords had appeared in Jinhyuk’s hands.

His senses were pushed to their limits, ready for any beasts or demons that might appear at any moment.

‘I did redirect the detour near Berial’s territory, but… is Berial not nearby?’

Due to the slight time and location mismatch, it would take some time to meet him.

Hopefully, nothing would happen before then.

But right at that moment—

“…….”

A foreign magic energy was detected.

It wasn’t Berial’s.

‘Crack.’

The sound of dry branches snapping announced the arrival of four demons.

“Tch. That idiot doesn’t even know the tides have changed and keeps making things harder for us.”

“Idiot is right. Lord Guntafer is the leading candidate for the next Demon King, after all.”

“Enough with the chatter. Focus on finding Berial’s minions. If we clear out this area today, we can completely cut off his supply lines.”

“Yeah. Once we deal with him, the Demon Realm will be unified, and then we can finally restart the war against that cursed Eden.”

They were beautiful, golden-haired demons with black eyes.

And they were all upper-level demons.

There was no cover in this barren place. Avoiding them was impossible.

The nobles and Jinhyuk locked eyes.

“What the—? A human? Why is there a human here…?”

“Who are you!?”

The situation quickly turned awkward.

Facing four upper-level nobles meant one thing—battle was unavoidable.

‘This is bad…’

If Jinhyuk recklessly used his unique sacred spear, Guntafer would immediately notice.

Even if he escaped now, word would still reach Guntafer.

In short, he had to eliminate all of them here.

“Answer me! Who the hell are you!?”

“Is he a resident? I thought all players were stuck in the 20th floor range.”

“We should subdue him first and ask questions later. He can still talk even without his limbs.”

‘Sling!’

Swords with black blades radiated killing intent.

‘Crunch!’

A chilling, squelching sound echoed.

But it wasn’t Jinhyuk’s arms or legs.

It came from the head of the noble at the front.

“A-Atraa!”

“W-what the hell?”

The answer to their confusion came immediately.

“Drawing your swords on such an important guest in my domain… I can only take that as a sign you don’t want to live.”

Berial.

One of the Demon Realm’s Demon Kings had appeared, glaring at the intruders in his domain.

The air turned chillingly cold.

Even after losing a comrade, the nobles quickly regained their composure.

As if this situation had been anticipated.

“Berial… So this is where you’ve been hiding.”

“Doesn’t matter. He’s just a toothless Demon King now.”

“Yeah… As long as we stay focused, we can hunt him easily. Lord Guntafer even gave us sacred relics for this.”

“Showing up here alone without your minions was a grave mistake.”

The nobles encircled Berial.

“Looks like Guntafer is getting desperate. Sending fools like you to kill me only proves that.”

“Shut up!”

The largest noble gripped his sword with both hands.

‘Paat!’

White energy mixed with demonic energy burst forth from the blade.

“…That’s?”

Berial’s brows furrowed sharply.

That unpleasant white light—

It was unmistakably ‘divine power’ from Eden.

“Yes, it’s a sacred relic we received from the angels.”

“A special weapon prepared just for you.”

“Heh. Even those damned angels are useful sometimes.”

Swords, spears, and shields.

The three types of sacred relics were unleashed.

Somehow modified for the demons’ use, the nobles wielded the angelic relics with unsettling ease.

‘Squelch!’

Once again, the chilling sound of flesh being pierced echoed.

But the one who bled this time wasn’t Berial.

“Ugh… Urk?”

As a dagger was pulled from his back, blood gushed like a fountain.

“Ah… Sorry, you guys were so focused on your chatter, and it felt like you were ignoring me… My hand just moved on its own. Really, it was a reflex.”

Jinhyuk offered a sincere apology.