## Chapter 1320 – The Demon Race

“Alright then, Risha. Let’s head up.”
“…Understood.”

They told us to go up first, so we should just go up now.

I’ve memorized the part about the lie. That our child is currently hidden somewhere down below, so they shouldn’t bomb the surface.

Honestly, I’m not sure if this will work.

A bastard who destroys cities without a word… would he stop attacking just because he has a grandson-like being? It’s absurd.

I heard that a famous American serial killer butchered not only his parents but also his grandparents, his son, his grandson, and his grandson’s friends. And the Belgians enjoyed massacring Congolese people in family units.

Similarly, you can’t expect any familial affection from those heartless demon bastards.

But it will be a minimal precaution.

After all, the side holding the hostage is bound to suffer losses. So, let’s just think of it that way.

“Hehehe, Risha as a mother.”
“U-Um… It’s a little embarrassing to imagine.”

Risha blushed and scratched her cheek.
She seems embarrassed to think about making a child.

But.

I don’t plan on making one yet.

This world is too dangerous. Right now, those demon bastards can cause unlimited chaos, and more than anything, I don’t know what that Lich bastard is up to.

The world is dangerous now.

Even if we had a child in this state, we wouldn’t be able to raise it properly. No. It’s 100% certain. Can my child be raised safely in this era of war? Children born in dangerous times are bound to grow up to be dangerous beings. History proves it.

“When are you thinking of it?”
“Well… after this world stabilizes. That’s when I’m thinking of it. It’s too dangerous now.”
“That’s true… Indeed. There are too many threats now.”
“Yeah.”

Threats.

“Those aren’t problems that can be solved just because I’m transcendently strong.”

I am strong now.

But not as strong as I’d like.
And there are limits.

“Even right now. I can destroy the demon bastards’ fleet, but I couldn’t stop the airships from bombing the city. That’s what my power is now. I can destroy and demolish everything, but…”

I look at Risha’s face and tell her the truth.

“Protecting something is difficult.”

So, I’m not thinking about having a child right now.
It’s not the time yet.

“…You’ve considered it very seriously.”
“It’s my power. Of course.”

Risha reached out and stroked my cheek.

“I’m always serious.”
“Hehehe, that’s true. Really… I don’t know how admirable you are.”

Risha’s smile is always gentle.

“You’re so dependable… I can entrust everything to you.”
“Yeah. Leave it all to me.”

Then let’s get going.

I immediately picked Risha up in a princess carry. From now on, we’ll be entering enemy territory. We’re boldly infiltrating their aerial fortress.

They’ll be aiming for Risha.
But that’s not a problem.

As long as I’m by her side, no one can touch Risha.

“Trust me.”
“I always trust you.”

ㅡWhoosh!

I immediately summoned my wings and flew up at a moderate speed. No. It would be more accurate to say “float” rather than “fly.” I slowly rose and headed towards the aerial fortress.

“By the way, Risha. What did you say when you came out?”
“I made up something appropriate. Because Kadia was there, I couldn’t reveal that I was a demon…”

Kadia is a problem.

“Everyone was worried, but I managed to get out somehow.”
“With that magic you used when you came here?”

Risha nodded.

“That’s the first time I’ve seen that magic.”
“I haven’t had much use for it until now. There was no need to hide my presence.”
“Is that so? Anyway, about Kadia… let’s tell her after everything is over and the situation is sorted out, depending on how things go.”
“Honestly, I’m a little worried about how Kadia will react.”
“It’s okay. Kadia is my woman too. She’ll accept it, of course.”

If it doesn’t go well, I’ll just have to pin her down on the bed and talk to her. No matter how strong Kadia is, she gets weak on the bed.

“Anyway… after we go up. Don’t worry too much. If I need to protect myself, I can certainly show off my skills.”
“That sounds a bit suspicious.”
“What’s suspicious! Don’t you know how much I’ve practiced black magic!”

For all that, Risha is a bit of a pushover.

“For all that, you’re a pushover.”
“A pushover! What do you mean by that!”

Risha’s face turned red, and she shouted. Well, it’s true that Risha is reliable in her own way. There’s nothing to worry about.

“I can protect myself!”
“Hehehe, I know. I know, so don’t get upset.”
“Ugh…”
“We’re almost there.”

And so.

We reached the aerial fortress.

“It’s fucking huge.”
“…”

The aerial fortress floating in the blue sky.

Seeing it from the sky, its appearance was truly overwhelming. An inverted cone-shaped black rock base. And on top of that, a magnificent fortress. It was so huge that it felt like a small city floating in the air.

Seeing it while floating in the air, I could really feel its size. No lie, it gave off the feeling of an evil palace.

Who the hell made this?

For now, there were no demon warriors in sight.
Did they all go inside the building?

ㅡThud.

Anyway, I landed on the edge of the fortress. This edge was used as a garden, with green grass planted. And in front of us. There was a gate leading into the fortress.

“So, we just have to go in here and find the Demon King Phelazer.”
“…It seems so.”

Risha looked around the fortress with a serious face and answered. It must be a new feeling for her. It’s an aerial fortress brought by her own kind. And Risha’s father is here.

After visiting Liztina’s parents, I realized that they’re the only normal in-laws I have. I’ll really treat them well.

But the rest will just get their asses kicked.

ㅡWhoooo.

I deployed my power and scanned for the Demon King’s location.

If Phelazer is a true transcendent, as the demons said. I should be able to feel it. That kind of intense energy is bound to stand out.

I can tell.

“Hmm?”

But.

“What? I don’t feel anything?”

What the fuck?
I don’t feel anything.

“What is it?”
“Phelazer’s energy or power… I don’t really feel anything.”
“…”

What the hell?

Is he hiding his power? Is there any reason to suppress his power in his own territory? Especially with a visitor like me?

This bastard… is he a pushover?

Is he just a little stronger than the demons, and that’s why they’re mistaken? That’s a possibility. Of course, I hope not… that would be anticlimactic.

“I don’t feel any extremely strong energy. It’s just normal. Risha. What do you think?”
“I don’t know either.”
“Really?”

Well, anyway.

“We’ll know when we go in. Risha. Let’s go.”

Risha nodded, and we slowly walked towards the gate. There weren’t any guards, but since Risha was with me, we decided to just go through the gate. Whatever happens, we’ll find out.

“Wow, this fortress is really huge.”

That’s all I can think about as I walk.

It’s a really magnificent aerial fortress. It’s so nice that I want to have one. Can I take it if I win the fight? The fortress looked so cool and powerful that I couldn’t help but think that.

“Risha. How does this thing float?”

But how does this thing float?
It’s just standing still in the air.

It’s a different level of technology than airplanes.

“Hmm… well.”

Risha pursed her lips at my question.

Oh.

That’s the reaction of someone who knows something.

“I don’t really know.”
“Risha?”
“Huh? What is it?”
“Do you want me to spank you?”
“Why, why, why! Why are you suddenly saying that!”

Risha visibly panicked and shouted as I spread my palm wide. Our Risha… she really doesn’t know anything in these areas. She doesn’t betray my expectations. She really doesn’t know.

“Why don’t you know anything! What am I supposed to do if you don’t know!”
“This is completely different from my knowledge! Even when I was in the Demon World, there were no flying fortresses like this! Of course, the gap of hundreds of years…!”

I guess so.

Risha said she didn’t even know the demons had airships like that.

“I know, Risha.”
“Don’t blame me for this! I’m already unrelated to the Demon World!”
“Hehehe, I know. I’m just saying. Just saying.”
“Ugh…”

Still, Risha’s face was completely red, probably because she was quite embarrassed. It seems that the more Risha doesn’t know, the more embarrassed she gets.

“But… at least. We can assume that they established a base somewhere other than the Demon World… and developed this technology.”
“That’s true.”

Of course, that’s not important right now.

Whatever is behind them.
Let’s put that off until later.

ㅡCreak.

We reached the gate. The gate was huge. And there were no beings that could be called gatekeepers. Who is supposed to open this kind of gate? I thought for a moment.

“Knock on my door.”
“What?”
“Baby knock knock knock.”

I lightly knocked on the door.

ㅡThwack!

The huge gate couldn’t withstand my power and shattered into pieces.

Why should I.

Wait for someone to open the door?

“What tremendous power… It was destroyed so easily with just a light tap…”
“This is nothing. It’s just a gentle caress.”
“If that’s a caress, my breasts would have already passed away.”

Risha grabbed her breasts with both hands and said it as if she was worried.

“Hehehe, it’s a different kind of power. Anyway, I broke the door. Shall we go inside?”
“Where are you planning to look first?”
“For something like this, you have to search from the basement up.”

There’s a high probability that he’ll be living in the highest place, but it’s better to search from the bottom to be sure. We’re invited guests anyway. Let’s search thoroughly.

ㅡStep step.

Beyond the gate was the inside of the fortress walls.

Gardens spread out to the left and right, and a stone corridor leading to the main building of the fortress was located in front.

“These are… plants from the Demon World.”
“Can you recognize them?”

Indeed, the plants in the garden were a bit strange. The grass, made up of all sorts of colors, was definitely unique even to my eyes, which had become quite familiar with plants thanks to Ari.

Risha touched the flowers a little and then walked in front of me.

In that way, we headed towards the main building of the fortress.

* * *

I broke down the door of the main building and went inside.
What I felt while walking through the inside of the fortress was.

“It’s quiet.”

It was quiet.

“There are no demon warriors. Did they all hear the news and retreat?”
“That may be the case. They already know of my existence.”
“Come to think of it, those guys seemed very surprised to see you, Risha.”
“They noticed that I am a princess.”
“Is it possible to tell?”

Risha nodded at those words.

According to the explanation, Risha is a descendant of Phelazer and a princess of the Demon World, so the demons can feel it. I don’t know the details, but well. If they all recognize her.

“By the way. Risha. Do you have any siblings?”
“I… don’t really know. Some followed my father, and some remained in the palace. But.”
“The chances of both surviving are low.”

At least the siblings who were in the palace must have all died. A rebellion broke out, and Risha barely escaped after suffering fatal injuries.

“Maybe you’re the only princess left, Risha.”
“I’m also considering that possibility.”

I walked down the hallway with Risha while having that conversation, and I found a passage leading to the basement. First, we’ll start searching from the basement.