Chapter 414 - 286: The Birth of a Conspiracy

As the sun lost its heat and faded to the color of a duck egg’s yolk, the Demons’ frontal assault finally thinned from a dense horde. The brutal casualties and the bodies of their comrades piled high like small hills posed a daunting challenge for the waves that followed.

Loud, guttural shouts erupted among the Demons. Accompanied by a bellow that seemed to shake the very heavens and earth, they began to slowly pull back.

These Demons weren’t about to collapse from a single defeat—they had been fighting like this for days.

As the Demons retreated, they left a group of cannon fodder Little Demons to cover their rear. Individually, these cowardly creatures were more timid than rabbits in the face of a strong enemy. But with a High Tier Demon Commander overseeing them, it was as if they had all been put under a Frenzy Technique, charging fearlessly at any pursuers and sacrificing their lives to buy time for their comrades’ escape.

Levi casually tossed aside the Broadsword in his hand, now little more than a mangled lump of iron. Propelled by immense Power, the ruined blade instantly plunged into the throng of Little Demons.

Flesh and blood flew everywhere. Blood gushed freely across the ground as agonized screams rang out one after another.

He watched the savage Demon Army retreat into the distance until it vanished from sight.

Although those fiends had suffered a major defeat, their retreat remained remarkably orderly. They even had the audacity to hurl a few threats in the Abyssal Language as they left.

"HUFF. ’Boss, are we giving chase?’ Zat gave his War Axe a flick. Though his face showed signs of exhaustion, his eyes were still burning with the will to fight.

"No. They haven’t been routed to the point of a complete collapse," Levi said, shaking his head. "I saw Wizards hidden within the Demon Army, maliciously preparing Magic. Anyone who pursues them will pay a heavy price."

’The lure of leveling up through the system was something no one could resist, and the warriors of High Cliff Castle were no exception. This gave them a proactiveness and lust for battle that most people would find unimaginable.’

"My Lord, several Beastman Warriors are badly injured and need immediate Treatment!" Heather came jogging up from behind, drenched in sweat. It was clear she had given her all in the battle.

"I’ll go see them," Levi said, taking a deep breath.

’Honestly, it was a testament to how well they’d fought that High Cliff Castle was only just now taking casualties.’

’While these Demons weren’t strong enough to overwhelm High Cliff Castle, their numbers were immense. Through sheer attrition, they were bound to eventually wound his Barbarians.’

Five Barbarians were laid out on the grass. The damage to their Armor wasn’t life-threatening, but the ghastly lacerations on their necks were terrifying. The wounds were deep enough to nearly expose their windpipes.

A few other Beastman Barbarians were frantically tearing strips of cloth, pressing them into the wounds in an attempt to stop the blood from gushing out.

’The strikes had bypassed the weakest points in their Armor. To achieve such a feat required exceptional Martial Arts. It was clear these wounds were most likely inflicted by a Six-armed Snake Demon Warrior.’

"Chief." The mood among the surrounding Barbarians was uncharacteristically somber. Even in the face of such an unprecedented victory, they could find little joy.

"What the hell are you all crowding around for? Give them some space!" the Lord snapped. He knelt beside the Barbarians to inspect their wounds and quickly breathed a sigh of relief. Just as he was about to speak, one of the injured men interrupted him.

"*Cough, cough*... Chief, are we... gonna die?"

They could feel their Life Force slipping away, so they decided to use what little time they had left for last words. "Even though... you can be a real cheapskate sometimes, Chief. I mean, back when you..."

The Barbarians continued to speak their minds, completely oblivious to a certain someone’s darkening expression.

"Are you done?" Levi asked with a smile, waiting until they had just about finished.

"Just one more thing, Chief. You should find a wife as soon as possible. The more, the better. Best if you have a whole bunch of little chiefs." The Barbarians exchanged a look, then said in unison, "It’s something all the guys are really worried about."

No one in this world is a fool, and the Barbarians were no exception. They understood that High Cliff Castle had only reached its current strength and unity because of the man before them—their backbone.

It felt inauspicious to even think it, but if something were to happen to their chief, it was hard to say whether High Cliff Castle could maintain its current state.

Therefore, a successor who could take over High Cliff Castle and command everyone’s respect was extremely important.

And without a doubt, the first choice for that person was the chief’s heir.

This was the accepted method of succession across the entire Middle Ages Continent.

’The son of a Giant Dragon is still a Giant Dragon. Our chief’s heir would surely be just as formidable.’

"I’ll grant you that dying wish," Levi said, patting their shoulders. He then asked with a grin, "Now, I have some good news and some bad news. Which do you want to hear first?"

"Uhh... the good news first, I guess," the Barbarians said, taken aback for a moment before answering instinctively.

"The good news is, you’re not going to die." Before they could cheer, Levi flashed a grin that revealed two rows of perfectly white teeth. "The bad news is, once you’re healed up, you’ll probably wish you were dead."

’So that’s how it is. Daring to badmouth me, the Lord of High Cliff Castle, right to my face? Just making things difficult for them later won’t be enough to assert my authority. I might as well tell them to their faces—once you’re healed, you’re going to be in for a world of pain.’

The looks of joy that had just appeared on the wounded men’s faces instantly soured.