Garion kept his eyes on the city below, watching the streets slowly return to order after the Demon Count's arrival.

Demons moved more carefully now. Even the loud ones had lowered their voices.

"…By the way," Garion said, breaking the silence, "why is he even here?"

He tilted his head slightly.

"This city is just an outskirts city. It's not important enough to attract a Demon Count."

Atlas answered immediately.

[Because you destroyed Black Ash City.]

[The mana fluctuation was too large to ignore.]

Garion frowned.

"Too large to ignore," he repeated. "I only destroyed a city. It can't be that bad."

Atlas replied without hesitation.

[Of course it's bad.]

Garion glanced to the side, then back at the city.

[Even in the demon world, releasing power strong enough to erase a city is forbidden.]

Garion's eyebrow lifted slightly.

"…Forbidden?"

[Yes.]

[The demon world is chaotic, but it is not lawless.]

Garion straightened his posture a little.

[Demons are not beasts.]

[They are civilized beings who choose evil.]

Garion let out a short breath.

"…So there are rules," he said. "Just cruel ones."

[Exactly.]

Atlas continued.

[That is why a Seal Demon was sent.]

[The first response to an unknown threat is containment.]

[They seal the culprit first, then decide whether to erase or control him.]

Garion nodded slowly.

"I see," he said. "So he's here to lock things down before it gets worse."

He looked back toward the city center, where Count Morveth had disappeared.

"…Interesting."

He shifted his stance and stepped back from the edge of the roof.

"Alright," Garion said.

"Then let's wait outside the city. When he goes to inspect Black Ash City, we move."

Atlas responded immediately.

[You're not going to attack right now?]

Garion shook his head.

"No," he said simply. "I'm not a madman."

He crossed his arms.

"I'm not destroying another city," he added. "And I'm not alerting higher-ranked demons either."

Atlas paused.

[Are you afraid, Host?]

Garion snorted softly.

"Afraid?" he repeated.

He glanced down at his fist and clenched it once.

"Of course not," he said. "Even if ten Demon Counts came at me, I could fight them."

Atlas remained silent.

"But," Garion continued, "that would be troublesome."

He uncrossed his arms and let them rest at his sides.

"I don't feel like handling them one by one," he said. "That's just asking for attention."

He looked back at the city one last time.

"So we do this cleanly," he said. "We deal with this Count."

Atlas listened.

"We take the demon slave," Garion continued. "Then we leave."

His tone was calm, matter-of-fact.

"After that," he said, "we decide what to do next."

Atlas responded after a short pause.

[I see.]

Garion stepped back from the rooftop and disappeared into the shadows.

"Good," he said. "Then let's be patient."

---

The chamber was silent.

Baron Zathrek stood with his back straight, hands folded in front of him.

Count Morveth stood a few steps away, his posture rigid, his gaze heavy.

The faint glow of sealing runes pulsed slowly across his body, making the air feel tight.

Morveth looked at Zathrek.

"Do you know why I came here?" he asked.

Zathrek did not hesitate.

"It must be related to Black Ash City," he replied.

Morveth nodded once.

"Yes," he said. "Three days ago, the higher authorities detected a massive mana fluctuation around that area."

Zathrek's eyes widened slightly.

"…A massive mana fluctuation?" he repeated.

Morveth glanced at him.

"Of course," he said. "Black Ash City should have been destroyed."

Zathrek swallowed.

"…Yes," he said slowly. "The city was completely erased."

Morveth watched his face closely.

"And?" he asked.

Zathrek hesitated for a brief moment, then spoke.

"Even the Demon Gate was gone."

The words had barely left his mouth when the pressure in the room changed.

Morveth's eyes narrowed sharply.

"…What did you just say?"

Zathrek felt his chest tighten.

"The Demon Gate," he repeated carefully. "It was destroyed as well."

For the first time since arriving, Count Morveth showed a clear reaction.

His eyes widened slightly.

"…Destroyed?"

Zathrek nodded.

Morveth took one slow step forward.

"How could that be?" he asked. "A Demon Gate exists on another level."

His voice dropped.

"Even I cannot destroy one."

Zathrek's heart sank.

"Only a Demon Lord," Morveth continued, "or a Demon Duke with special equipment, could erase a gate completely."

Zathrek stiffened.

"…Are you certain?" Morveth asked. "Absolutely certain that the Demon Gate is gone?"

Zathrek nodded again.

"Yes," he said. "There was nothing left."

Morveth frowned.

"…Nothing?"

Zathrek answered immediately.

"Nothing at all," he said. "No structure. No remains. No fragments."

He lowered his head slightly.

"Just a massive crater and distorted mana."

Morveth fell silent.

He turned his head slightly, thinking.

"…I see."

Zathrek waited, his back tense.

"The Demon Gate in Black Ash City," Morveth said slowly, "was that the one sealed from the other side?"

Zathrek nodded.

"Yes," he replied. "It has not been enterable for decades because of that seal."

Morveth exhaled quietly.

"Then it makes sense," he said.

Zathrek blinked. "…It does?"

Morveth nodded.

"If the gate was sealed from the other side, then it was already unstable," he said.

"A powerful external force could have caused it to collapse."

He paused.

"When it collapsed, it would devour everything nearby."

Zathrek's eyes widened.

"…The city," he said.

"Yes," Morveth replied. "The city."

Zathrek finally understood.

"No wonder Black Ash City vanished," he muttered.

He clenched his fists slightly.

In his mind, he could not think of anyone who could defeat Kravos so cleanly.

Even if Morveth himself wanted to kill Kravos, it would not have been quick.

Something didn't add up.

Morveth looked at him again.

"Do not misunderstand," he said. "This does not mean the situation is safe."

Zathrek straightened.

"Yes, Count," he said.

"Whether it was an external calamity or an internal collapse," Morveth continued, "the result is the same."

He turned slightly, looking toward the window.

"A Demon Gate vanished."

The room felt heavier.

"My mission remains unchanged," Morveth said. "Tomorrow, you will accompany me."

Zathrek nodded immediately.

"We will inspect the site of Black Ash City," Morveth continued. "I will see it with my own eyes."

Zathrek bowed deeply.

"As you command."

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