Niel together with the two others successfully entered inside through the road he once traversed with the seven heroes of light. Both Matthius and Arneld were already prepared with their swords behind there. Matthius knew he could not fully control the mana of light yet which caused the choice to fall on the sword, while his father was indeed a user of magic and sword.
Different from the two other people, Niel only stood still in the middle of the marble floor in a room adorned with many sparkling chandeliers. Every corner, that dark area, and the point where he once faced the owner of absolute power with his comrades who were now gone.
"This place..."
Niel's gaze was melancholic, staring at the vast room that became a silent witness on the day his comrades were killed very cruelly. How he saw his first defeat that was so terrifying. Kneeling before a calm figure who brought death. And now, he would face him again.
"Come here." Niel led climbing the stairs that towered up to above. This stair was the place where that cold figure stood, looking down at them and giving his terrifying absolute law.
"I know you must be remembering that bad memory." Arneld whispered walking beside Niel.
"Focus on walking."
Matthius behind looked at the stage of those two adults for a time that was not long. His gaze toward the other direction—seeing every corner of the room. The Demon King's castle and luminaria were not much different. Luminaria was adorned with sparkle like light, while this castle was adorned with darkness like obsidian gems.
"Welcome, gentlemen all."
Startled, they turned, seeing the shimmer of black hair amidst the darkness. That figure bowed with a charming style, then raised his gaze slowly until those deep purple eyes split the darkness. That charismatic smile silenced the atmosphere.
"Forgive my lateness."
"Lu-Lucifer?!" Both of Niel's eyes bulged perfectly, seeing the figure he killed a hundred years ago standing right before him while smiling.
Lucifer directed his gaze at Niel, "Long time no see, Lord Elf." He replied, full of courtesy.
"Lucifer... the fallen angel figure in legend?" Arneld guessed.
"Are you the current King of Luminaria? I'm glad you recognize me."
"I didn't feel his presence aura at all." Matthius looked warily at Lucifer.
Lucifer who felt the gaze of hostility smiled at its owner. "I came not as an enemy, but as an envoy to welcome my Master's guests." He explained.
"Your Master?"
"The great Demon King is already waiting for you."
The three faces tensed. What did he say? The Demon King was waiting? Since when? They had erased the aura of their existence even before arriving at the city of Artar. But if that was the Demon King, then it was not surprising. Because he was the monster of all monsters.
"Come, follow me."
They followed Lucifer for Violet. Gaze looking at the floor, then Lucifer's beautiful back. That demon walked like a butler guiding guests in the palace. Occasionally, Lucifer would turn while smiling, provoking the hidden fear.
Every corridor passed, every time Lucifer turned, spontaneously they shifted their gaze to another direction. Matthius looked strangely at the two adults walking before him. Even though Lucifer did not emit intent to attack, but it felt those two people were too wary.
"Father, I didn't feel any killing intent from him at all." Matthius said, hoping to make his father a little calmer.
"Son, you don't know. He is the only fallen angel who became a ranked demon, and that is at a level you won't even be able to reach when you become a great angel." Arneld explained.
"His appearance is indeed charming enough to make you forget he is a fallen angel who switched to become the cruelest demon ever recorded by history. If only I went alone to fight him a hundred years ago, let alone victory, even to return alive would be impossible." Niel added.
"From the recorded legend, divine magic was needed to stop him rampaging and seal his soul."
Hearing that made Matthius stare closely at Lucifer from behind. "Is that charming demon really crazy? He looks more like a loyal dog to his Master compared to a troublemaker." He thought.
"Are these the humans that Master mentioned?" Belphegor who was half drowsy came from the opposite direction. "They're so noisy. I want to destroy them."
Lucifer crouched, leveling his height with the seven-year-old child Belphegor. "Did you wake up in the middle of your sound sleep?"
Belphegor pointed at them walking behind Lucifer "The sound of their mana flow keeps going 'tring, tring' that makes my ears feel like they want to burst."
"Maybe because two of them are owners of light mana."
"Light mana? Tsk. I hate it. Those lights are just lumps of rotten meat. Only him is not the same." Belphegor's complaint was answered with Lucifer's charming laugh.
"Grandfather sir, is he also a demon?" Arneld asked.
"A rank seven demon, the little Belphegor. Though he looks cute, he is very dangerous when angry. A sleeping lion, that's what he is." Niel informed.
"To me, he looks like a handsome little prince since birth." Matthius commented.
Belphegor glanced sinisterly at Matthius. "I smell the thick light mana from him. It seems His Majesty added a useless pet again." He hissed. "Remember this. I only respect him, not you His pets. So, don't expect my courtesy." He then left like a gust of wind.
"Hha... sorry gentlemen. He is indeed very sensitive when it concerns light mana." Said Lucifer.
"Demons should be like that." Matthius hissed, heard by Lucifer but only a smile as his reply.
Lucifer nodded slightly at Matthius's words, then turned facing the large door before him. "Please. Calm yourselves, because Master did not set a trap." He opened the door, "I enter, Master."
Matthius and Arneld canceled drawing their swords. Looked at each other then nodded simultaneously. Stepped inside the large room filled with bookshelves. There it was quiet, as if sound was reluctant to echo. Tables and chairs arranged looked dusty, only one table was sparkling with a stack of books on it.
Sunlight reflected softly on the paper sheets on every open book. Amidst the castle's scary nuance, only that place radiated warmth. However, not that place that became the center of attention, but the small figure sitting calmly while flipping a book. These three guests of ours also knew who he was.
"Louis?!"