Chapter 9: Unveiling the Demon King's Mask

After the terrible incident in the village of Terraine, the journey back to the capital felt long and filled with silence. Layla and Seraphine escorted the surviving children, while my mind, Leonix, was filled with questions.

Why did Igor, the Necromancer, know the weakness of Seraphine's sacred magic? It was impossible. He was far weaker than me. Unless... someone had given him the information. Someone from inside the church.

"Leon, what's wrong? Why have you been so quiet?" Seraphine asked, her voice sounding worried.

I put on a thin smile. "It's nothing. Maybe I'm just tired from the battle."

"So heroes can get tired too, huh? I thought you were all strong," Layla said mockingly, laughing.

Layla's laughter didn't distract me. I was getting more certain. The mastermind behind all this was not a Demon General, but a traitor in the church. I suspected Mr. Gordon, but... one name kept ringing in my head. Kafka. Seraphine's teacher, the one who assigned that suicide mission.

"I've made up my mind. Kafka is the culprit. I'll tell Seraphine about this tomorrow," I muttered to myself.

That night, at the inn, I kept thinking about how to prove my suspicion.

The next day, as I walked out to meet Seraphine, my steps stopped. A beautiful woman stood in front of me. She was in her 30s, her hair blue like water and her eyes as beautiful as gold. The pupils of her eyes were brown, but there was a strange glint in them.

"Wait, you! Hey, I said wait!" her voice was firm and full of authority.

"What's wrong? Do you have business with me?" I asked, pretending to be confused.

The woman stepped forward. A faint magical protection circle appeared in her hand. Her golden eyes lit up.

"There's one thing I want to talk about. Why does a person like you have magic energy and mana that is exactly the same as the Demon King's?"

Instantly, my mask felt heavy. I knew she was no ordinary person.

"What do you mean, Miss? I don't understand at all," I replied, trying hard to maintain my Hero Leon persona.

"Don't joke with me! Show me your true face! Demon King Oberon, you may be able to disguise yourself as a normal human, but not in my eyes!"

"W-wait! I am the Hero you call! Hero Leon!"

"How many times do I have to tell you NOT to JOKE with me!" she yelled. Her words created a shockwave that shattered the windows around her.

The residents who heard the shouting panicked.

"Isn't that Lady Kafka? What's wrong? She's not usually that angry," a resident whispered.

"Could it be a Demon King's army?" another responded.

Hearing the name Kafka, I was shocked. So she was the one. She was Seraphine's teacher. She was the most dangerous person here.

"ALL OF YOU LEAVE! THIS IS MY BUSINESS WITH THIS MAN! THIS MAN IS VERY DANGEROUS!" Kafka shouted.

The residents and citizens ran away, leaving us alone in the quiet street. I decided to use my cunning trick. I would pretend to be innocent, then attack back when she was off guard.

Kafka didn't waste time. With a quick chant, she unleashed two attacks: Arrow Magic and Divine Shoot, shooting at me mercilessly. I dodged them nimbly, but the two attacks exploded on the wall behind me, causing a huge crack.

"Looks like there's no other way. Staying silent is useless," I muttered.

I activated my magic. "Booster Up! Speed Up!"

Instantly, my speed increased dramatically. I lunged, attacking Kafka. She, who was shocked, kept defending my attacks with her protective magic. Our battle was a battle of speed and magic.

I found an opening. With my Exceed Charge magic, I jumped high, then kicked Kafka. Her protective magic shattered like broken glass, and she was thrown backward.

Kafka got up with difficulty. "It seems you're quite strong, Oberon."

I smiled with satisfaction. My mask had fallen. There was no point in hiding it anymore.

"That's right, because I... am the Demon King, Leonix!" I said, with a cunning and evil laugh.

However, Kafka was not afraid. Her face, which had been full of anger, now changed, filled with a sad and pitiful expression. She looked at me as if she were seeing a lost child.

"Poor boy... You call yourself Demon King Leonix?" she whispered, her voice filled with pain. "You don't even realize the truth. All you have is the power of the true Demon King... Oberon."

My sinister laughter faded. My evil smile froze. My eyes widened in disbelief.

"What... do you mean...?"