"Your Majesty!"
"Wait for me, Your Majesty!"
A man with hurried footsteps tried to stop Arneld who wanted to reveal his decision to open access to the underworld to the others. But his King deafened both of his senses and kept walking toward the open meeting room after gathering the country's officials. Damn it!
"Is it true that you will lift the ban on the underworld? Do you know that is a dangerous thing?"
That man, the royal Aide as well as the King's brother-in-law, blocked his path with both arms outstretched and stared sharply at Arneld. Regarding this behavior, it was natural for a twenty-year-old youth who was still in the growth period. Honestly, he was forced to be in this position. Keep that in mind!
"Stop or I'll tell my sister!" He threatened in tattletale little brother mode.
Arneld's stiff face softened upon hearing it. "Sebastian, get out of my sight."
"No! As the royal Aide I must oppose the King if that decision could involve many lives in danger." That was Sebastian, the best graduate of Aetheria Academy who defeated elite students from high noble families.
Arneld stared closely at Sebastian who looked like a male version of Ermely. "You've known me for quite a long time, right?"
"Correct. Because of that, I don't want you to make a mistake."
"Do you doubt me?"
Finding Sebastian silent, Arneld then continued his delayed steps. Sebastian clicked his tongue, muttering all sorts of things with his feet stomping while following Arneld from behind. The large door ahead was immediately opened by the guards, then they bowed respectfully as Arneld passed through. Sebastian looked at them sinisterly, but they just put on a confused face because they didn't know the cause of the hostile aura that Sebastian showed.
"We give our greetings to the Great Light of Luminaria."
The royal officials rose from their seats, paying respects to Arneld. They glanced at Sebastian standing on Arneld's right whose aura was so gloomy. What's up? Why is he looking at us with full hostility? That was roughly what everyone was asking.
"Sit down." Arneld ordered.
"What is the matter that made you gather all of us on a morning like this, Your Majesty?" asked Duke Mirmod, chairman of the council of nobles, after sitting back in his chair.
"I want to revoke the ban on going to the underworld."
Instantly, everyone in the room had a shocked face. Now they understood why the Aide's face was gloomy today. A prohibition that had existed since the kingdom's independence from tyrannical rule suddenly wanted to be eliminated. Where did the creature who ratified it go? Niel! Come here!
"B-b-but Your Majesty..." Duke Bherliend was about to oppose before Arneld's sharp gaze turned to him.
"Listen to me first." Arneld crossed his legs on the chair. "This decision will bring many benefits to the people. For those who do not receive formal education, but are skilled at hunting as a way to survive on the outskirts of the city, they can use their skills in the underworld. The materials there are very abundant."
"Don't we already have dungeons and missions from the Adventurer's Guild?" asked Viscount Marley
"Correct. And with exploration of the underworld we can increase the income of the people of this country who have the average profession of adventurers and material gatherers. I have also sent a request letter to the Adventurer's Guild."
"Impossible, Your Majesty! This is truly dangerous!" Duke Mirmod stood up and slammed his hand on the table. "Even if the Demon King doesn't exist, that place is still dangerous. The deeper you go, the closer you are to death."
Arneld adjusted his sitting position before answering, "That is why I asked the Adventurer's Guild to go investigate and provide tiers like rooms in dungeons and ruins, so adventurers can enter them according to their rank."
"Wouldn't that endanger the Guild workers? I hope you don't forget that we all sit in these chairs planning the best for the people and the kingdom."
"It won't be dangerous because they will be guided by an expert."
"Who? Even Lord Niel isn't present at this meeting because His Excellency is afraid of the underworld. Who is the person who can do it when even a light wielder can't do it?"
"The atmosphere is getting heated. Can you come out now?"
Everyone in the room was bewildered, not knowing who Arneld was talking to. However, on the other side of the room not illuminated by light, someone smiled. The sound of footsteps was heard rhythmically, and his form became more visible as the clouds covering the sunlight drifted away blown by the wind.
The friction between the soles of his shoes and the floor was heard softly as he pulled his left foot back, and his body slightly bent with his right hand in front of his chest. A mesmerizing smile hypnotized everyone in the room. What kind of creature was that? So beautiful like a black rose adorning a coffin.
"Greetings, gentlemen. I am Lucifer, an envoy who is no better than his Master."
Lucifer stood upright, looking ahead where the long table stretched filled with several royal officials and their King right in front of him. Handsome and beautiful, but his gaze was sharp enough to break the silence in the room. Although he didn't emit a murderous aura, they all knew Lucifer was a dangerous figure behind his beauty like a rose that had sharp thorns.
"Lu... cifer?" Mirmod's face frowned.
Arneld stood up, walking over to Lucifer. "He is an envoy from the underworld, Lucifer."
"The Demon King sent me here to represent him."
"Demon King?" Duke Bherliend approached, "What does this mean, Your Majesty?"
"A few days ago, Niel and I traveled to the underworld to make an agreement. The Demon King's side asked me to revoke the ban on entering the underworld as a condition of the agreement from his side."
"What agreement? Why don't we know?" Duke Mirmod asked from his chair in a standing position. "That was not a pleasure trip that you could keep secret!"
"Calm down, gentlemen." Lucifer interjected.
"You..." Viscount Marley looked at Lucifer with hostility.
"Yes, sir?" Lucifer displayed his charming signature smile.
"A liar like you cannot be trusted!"
"L-l-liar?" Lucifer's smiling face twitched slightly in annoyance. "I am the envoy of the Demon King, the first great demon, Lucifer."
"Nonsense!"
The smile in Lucifer's eyes faded. His body was still. The air in the room turned cold even though the weather was scorching. Sebastian, who had strong intuition, felt the threat behind that calm self. Sebastian's intuition was proven right when Lucifer opened his eyes, revealing his purple demon eyes like a wild animal's eyes radiating an aura of death.
"My intuition... was right, wasn't it!" Sebastian exclaimed in his heart while trying to withstand Lucifer's intimidation which was so strong.
"Lucifer." A call was heard without an owner.
"Master?" Lucifer recognized the owner of the voice just now.
"I sent you to represent me, not to scare them."
"Ah, forgive me, Master!"
Lucifer calmed down again. The warm atmosphere was felt again. Everyone in the room regulated their breathing after being momentarily pressed by Lucifer. Crazy! The demon in front of them was crazy! Using demon eyes with extraordinary pressure inside the room? There was no other word that could represent it except crazy.
"Can we start the meeting now?" Lucifer asked. "Let me clarify again. I came at the will of my Master who has made an agreement with the King. That is correct, right?" He looked at Arneld.
"Correct. This agreement is based on my personal affairs. However, the Demon King's side offered an agreement that is very profitable for the kingdom, with permission to adventure in the underworld to hunt and search for magical materials." Arneld explained.
"The Demon King will not harm adventurers as long as they stay within the limits. Collecting a lot of materials and game is still within limits. If they have the intention to enter the Demon King's palace, disturb and even carry out acts of attack, then I myself will execute them on the spot." Lucifer added.
"Think again. With this opportunity we can cut most of the poverty due to minimal ability for formal education. The people get food ingredients and the kingdom gets taxes. Facilities that use magic stones can also be more widely open to the people, not just among the nobles."
All the council of nobles considered Arneld's conclusion. There was nothing wrong with each of his thoughts. Benefits spread widely to reach the people. Prosperity would occur not only among nobles, but also the people. Just up to this point, the image of a guaranteed future could already be clearly depicted.
"What benefit does the Demon King get after giving this opportunity?" Duke Mirmod asked.
"Master gets free cleaning staff. The amount of material and demon beasts that continue to breed can cause problems such as reduced land. With the arrival of adventurers, cleaning can be done."
"Only... that? Is it true that your Master is the Demon King who will destroy the world?"
"Correct. However, Master still does not have that desire."
"After the reply letter from the central Adventurer's Guild arrives, we will only then be able to decide. Ranking is very necessary before adventurers explore the underworld." The council of nobles finally decided.
Arneld smiled faintly, very faintly exceeding a tissue divided by seven. "I knew you would agree, because this profit has become a dazzling bait." He muttered without anyone hearing.
"Then, I take my leave. Thank you for the uninteresting welcome." Lucifer bowed, slowly retreating toward the darkness of the room that would take him home.
"Let us end this meeting. You can return to give the final decision after the reply letter from the Adventurer's Guild arrives." Sebastian said, making those people take their leave one by one before leaving the room to Arneld.
Arneld threw his body onto the chair. "I didn't expect that bookworm Demon King to really send Lucifer as his envoy. That was close."
Sebastian poured tea that the servant brought for Arneld. "I will not ask what agreement you made with the Demon King. However, one thing you must remember. Maturity in thinking before making a decision is something you must prioritize."
Arneld looked at Sebastian, until the Aide took several steps back to his side. "No mistake choosing him to be my Aide. Look at how absolute firmness is in this twenty-year-old youth." He thought, then sipped tea calmly accompanied by the chirping of morning birds.