After Ten Millennia in Hell

Oh Kang-Woo gasped.

Demon King Oh Kang-Woo…

The moment Balrog said Kang-Woo's name, Kang-Woo's stopgap was thrown out the window. His mind blanked out like he'd been hit in the back of the head with a hammer.

There was an astronomical difference between calling him the Demon King and associating his exact name with the title.

"How does that demon know hyung-nim's name...?"

"K-Kang-Woo? What is going on?"

Kim Si-Hun and Gaia were the first to question him.

'Damn it all,' Kang-Woo thought.

The hero Oh Kang-Woo—who had been chosen by Tirion, God of Heroes—and the archdemon of the Ninth Hell Balrog were meeting for the very first time.

It didn't matter what the truth was. As far as the others knew, this was the first time Kang-Woo was meeting Balrog. Yet, Balrog knew Kang-Woo's name and was even professing his loyalty to Kang-Woo.

It shouldn't have been possible for Balrog to know Kang-Woo's name. This huge contradiction was hard to cover with trust.

"What is the meaning of this?"

Tian Wuchen, Tian Suyan, and Cha Yeon-Joo looked back and forth between Balrog and Kang-Woo in confusion.

At first, they'd thought it was a cheap trick that the Demon Cult was playing. However, judging from the way the Demon Cultists had reacted and how Balrog had killed them in the blink of an eye, that didn't seem to be the case.

"...Kang-Woo?

Even Han Seol-Ah looked at him with quivering eyes.

This situation made Kang-Woo's head hurt. He turned his head and saw Balrog looking at him with glimmering eyes. Kang-Woo fell deeper into turmoil.

Right then…

"Kuh! Since things have become like this!"

The Demon Cultists who had survived Balrog's attack decided to take action.

They chanted, "Oh, Aspects of Evil! Grant us the power to control all that is demonic!"

[Hmm?] Balrog murmured with a frown.

Before he could make a move, black light poured out of the magic circle that he was standing on.

[Kuh! Wh-What do you think you're doing?!]

The black light restrained Balrog, and a geometric pattern formed on his body. It was as if he was being branded with a branding iron.

'That's…'

Kang-Woo's eyes widened. He recognized the magic circle that had formed on Balrog. This one had a different form and size, but Kang-Woo had previously seen a magic circle with the same pattern.

'I thought that it could only control demonic beasts.'

The black magic circle that had controlled the Chrysalis covered more of Balrog and emitted an ominous light.

Kang-Woo frowned.

'Are they gonna try to control Balrog?'

That had a completely different meaning from being able to control a Chrysalis. Balrog was a demon that no one could forcibly control, not even Kang-Woo when he had been at his peak in Hell.

'Just how…?'

Moreover, Kang-Woo had no idea who or what the Aspects of Evil that led the Demon Cult were.

[Do you seriously believe… you will be able to control me?!]

"ARRGGHH!"

"S-Save me!"

"Damn! H-Hurry! Keep chanting!"

Balrog struggled against the control of the magic circle. His thrashing limbs smashed the Demon Cultists around him to bits. Even so, those who survived continued to desperately try to gain control over Balrog.

The magic circle that glowed with a black light encompassed Balrog completely.

[Graaaahhhh!!!] Balrog roared.

He furiously swung the whip, which was covered with black flames. All of the remaining Demon Cultists were reduced to ashes and dispersed into the air.

[Fuuu, fuuu.]

However, Kang-Woo had a grim expression as he cursed inwardly, 'Shit.'

Balrog, who had gotten rid of the rest of the Demon Cultists, was glaring at Kang-Woo with animosity. It seemed like Balrog couldn't completely free himself from the control of the magic circle.

[M-My king, p-please… forgive...]

An irresistible impulse engulfed his mind, and he aggressively swung his whip at Kang-Woo.

"Hyung-nim!"

"Stay back!!"

Kang-Woo took a step forward despite hearing words of caution from the others. They might have a chance against other demons, but he was the only one who could face Balrog at that moment.

He stomped on the ground violently, raised Del Lain, and blocked Balrog's flame whip.

Clang—!

"Kuh!"

The impact of the collision was colossal, and it traveled up Kang-Woo's arms. Then Balrog, who had closed the distance between them in the blink of an eye, slammed into Kang-Woo with his shoulder.

"Kurgh!"

Kang-Woo bent over at the waist, unable to withstand the force of Balrog's slam. Like a pebble caught up in the force of an explosion, the slam sent him flying and then rolling on the ground.

'Fucking crazy pig!'

The Lord of Destruction, Balrog—his power was indeed worthy of that title.

Kang-Woo's expression hardened.

[Graaahhh! Who… Who dares to control me?!] Balrog cried desperately.

He squirmed, struggling to free himself from the influence of the magic circle that had covered his body. His red skin split open in the process, and black blood flowed out from Balrog's eyes, nose, and ears.

"Goddammit," Kang-Woo cursed.

At this rate, Balrog would die while trying to resist the power of the magic circle.

'Just stay still, you dumbass!!'

Kang-Woo ran anxiously toward Balrog. He concentrated the Authority of Titanic Might on his fist and threw a punch, but Balrog raised his knee and countered the fist.

Rumble!!

The ground shook. Two huge powers clashed, and the trees around them were blown away.

"Cough!"

The massive shock caused blood to spurt out from Kang-Woo's mouth. Black blood splattered onto the floor.

[A-Aaaahhh. Wh-What have I done to my king…?!]

Balrog paled. He was trembling, seemingly unable to accept that he'd attacked Kang-Woo. The amount of blood pouring out of his eyes, nose, and ears increased.

[Kuh! If I am forced to hurt my king, I would rather…!]

Balrog raised his hand, which was shaking intensely as he resisted the influence of the magic circle.

'That son of a bitch…'

Kang-Woo's gaze darkened. He could easily guess what Balrog was trying to do.

Balrog put his hand near his head.

'Stop, you crazy bastard.'

Balrog was thinking that he would rather die than be forced by an unknown power to attack his king. For a person with just an average level of loyalty toward their king, it was an unthinkable task. However, this was Balrog, and he would most definitely do it without hesitation.

'Fuck!'

Kang-Woo turned his head and glanced at the others. They were watching him with confused gazes; they didn't understand what was happening.

Balrog was trying to commit suicide. The situation was worsening. Nevertheless, there was one way for Kang-Woo to resolve everything.

'...I could give up on Balrog.'

If Balrog were to commit suicide, Kang-Woo would be able to make excuses that it had all been the Demon Cult's filthy scheme all along.

However…

"Shit, shit! Fuck!"

Kang-Woo cursed.

Balrog… had been the first demon that Kang-Woo had fought, and he had been Kang-Woo's loyal aide for over a millennia. They'd fought many wars and experienced countless victories together.

"You fucking idiot! You're absolutely no help at all!" Kang-Woo chided him.

Balrog was an idiot who had stayed by Kang-Woo's side even after he'd declared war on the seven princes of Hell and become the common enemy of the entire Ninth Hell. As long as it was for Kang-Woo's sake, this stupid demon would fight against any opponent without taking into consideration how strong they were. He was a duncehead who would obey any order Kang-Woo gave him; he would fight if he were told to, and he would die if he were told to.

"ARRGGHH!!"

Kang-Woo's irritation surged. Even at that moment, Balrog was moving his hand toward his head with the intention to explode it.

There would be no way for Kang-Woo to sort out this mess if he were to save Balrog. Kang-Woo would be blatantly confirming that he truly was connected to Balrog in some way and that this wasn't just some scheme the Demon Cult had plotted.

'Yeah, just die.'

It was no surprise that Kang-Woo would have such thoughts.

'As long as Balrog dies…'

If the source of this entire conflict were to die, Kang-Woo would be able to sort this huge mess out.

'But… But… But…'

"Shit! Shit! Shit!"

He stomped on the ground.

"BALROOOOOG!!!" Kang-Woo shouted.

He leaped at Balrog and kicked away his hand, which was about to make his head explode.

"You dumbass!! How many times do I have to say that you have to stop trying to commit suicide every time something bad happens?! Huh?"

[Kuh. M-My king.]

"That's going to disappear in just a few minutes, so enough of your shit, and just stay still!"

[But...]

Kang-Woo scowled and said sharply, "Since when did you start questioning my orders?"

[My apologies!] Balrog quickly answered.

The close battle continued.

Balrog was a powerful demon, but it wasn't to the extent that Kang-Woo couldn't hold out against him for a few minutes. Furthermore, if Kang-Woo used a technique that utilized demonic energy from the deep end, he would be able to defeat Balrog. Regardless, there was no need to do that.

[Kurgh!]

"Argh!"

Balrog wasn't giving the battle his all. He was fighting Kang-Woo while resisting the magic circle as much as he could.

It was the same for Kang-Woo. The fight would be over once the magic circle's power ran out, so there was no need for him to go all out.

Fwoosh.

Five minutes passed by, and the magic circle that was covering Balrog's body turned into black smoke and disappeared. The battle came to an end.

Bam!

[My king!]

Balrog knelt and slammed his forehead onto the ground, forming a dip in the earth.

[I beg of you, behead this traitor who dared to attack you!] Balrog shouted while shedding tears.

"Haaa," Kang-Woo sighed.

"H-Hyung-nim."

"Kang-Woo, what is…"

Si-Hun and Gaia were looking at him in confusion.

The others were doing the same.

'Fuck.'

Kang-Woo couldn't make any excuses anymore. The situation had gotten far too messy.

'Think.'

The gears in his mind turned quickly, trying to figure out a way to overcome this situation.

'There is one way.'

However, it wasn't perfect, nor had it been thoroughly planned out. It was closer to a gamble. It was an extremely lackadaisical plan that relied solely on the trust that he had built up so far with everyone present.

'But…'

There was no other way. The situation had gotten too complex for Kang-Woo to pretend that it had all been part of a demon's scheme.

'Shit.'

He wasn't fond of strategies like this. If someone else were to hear what he was thinking of saying, they would yell at him that it was so absurd, and he wouldn't be able to refute them in any way.

'I believe in you guys.'

Kang-Woo turned and looked at each of his comrades.

Still, even if they had great trust in him, there was a high probability that his plan would fail.

'But if it works…'

Then he would be able to act much more freely in the future.

'All right. Let's roll the dice.'

Nothing would be resolved if he remained silent. Since he'd decided on a plan, the only thing left was to put it into action.

"...I guess I can't hide it any longer," Kang-Woo told his comrades while slowly taking off his mask. He looked at them with sad eyes and confessed, "I am the demon king of the Nine Hells."

He gulped, took a deep breath, and kept talking.

"Or at least I used to be," Kang-Woo said with a bitter smile. "That is, until the rebellion that Satan led."

* * *

There was a saying that a true lie contained 99% truth with just 1% lie woven in between. It meant that a lie that cleverly distorted the truth was far more effective than a 100% lie.

Kang-Woo knew this very well, but he had not cleverly distorted the truth in any way during his time on Earth.

'To be more precise, there had been no need to.'

Gaia, the Guardians, and all the other people he'd built a relationship with… they didn't know much about Hell. Since they didn't know anything, there hadn't been a need for him to distort the truth. That was also why Kang-Woo had told 100% lies until this moment.

'But…'

However, the situation had changed due to Balrog. It had become difficult for Kang-Woo to keep up the lie that he had been telling the others.

'Just thinking about it makes me angry.'

Kang-Woo looked at Balrog, who was keeping his head on the ground, and sighed.

'You moron.'

Of course, Kang-Woo wasn't actually angry at Balrog. He knew that Balrog had reacted in such a way because he was really happy to see his lord, whom he hadn't seen in such a long time. There was no way Balrog would've known that his actions would harm Kang-Woo's position.

Kang-Woo wished for Balrog to pick up on the truth behind the current situation, but Balrog was too dim-witted for Kang-Woo to expect him to be able to do that. Balrog was simply a subordinate who was loyal to the point of stupidity.

'There weren't that many hints for him to take either.'

There was no way Balrog would've known that after returning to Earth, Kang-Woo had hidden his identity and pretended to be a hero.

'But I really have to fix his habit of trying to take his own life whenever things go awry.'

Kang-Woo was angry with Balrog because he was too loyal to him. If Balrog made even the slightest mistake, he always said things like he'd made a fatal mistake and would pay for it with his life. His excessive loyalty gave Kang-Woo a lot of stress.

If anyone else had said that, Kang-Woo would have been able to ignore it, but in Balrog's case, he couldn't do that.

"K-Kang-Woo? What do you mean?"

"Y-You were the demon king, hyung-nim?"

Gaia and Si-Hun couldn't recover from the shock at the bomb-like revelation.

'I get it.'

They hadn't known each other for a long time, but they had both come to trust him a lot thanks to all of the efforts he'd made. Hence, it made sense that they would react like that after Kang-Woo suddenly confessed that he was the demon king.

"Yes. I used to be the demon king who ruled the Nine Hells."

Kang-Woo raised his hand. He drew out pure demonic energy onto his hand without using the Ruler of Demonic Energy.

Gaia gasped. She trembled in shock and took a step backward.

"Y-You've been deceiving us all this time?" Grace McCubbin questioned.

She took out her weapon and glared at Kang-Woo with a sharp gaze.

Si-Hun and Seol-Ah were fidgeting indecisively with faces full of disbelief.

'I expected these reactions.'

Kang-Woo had known they would react that way. Actually, he'd thought their reactions would be much worse.

'Not bad.'

He saw a possibility of his plan succeeding.

'Commencing Project Oh Kang-Woo: Warrior of Light!'

He clenched his hands into fists.