Suicide Before Defeating the Final Boss

Suicide Before Defeating the Final Boss – 111

EP.111 Conquering the Demon World Part 1

In the demon realm, it was a well-known truth: while the Demon King might change, the dukes did not.

This fundamental principle was a cornerstone of the demon realm’s stability. Even if a Demon King perished or was replaced, the realm itself remained steadfast.

‘Though the Demon King might be revered as a god among the demons, few see them as true rulers.’

Instead, the real power lay with the demon dukes, who commanded the loyalty and respect of most demons. The stability of the demon realm, even in the face of countless failed invasions of the human world, could be attributed to this fact.

The dukes’ safety was paramount, and their protection was a top priority. Each duke’s personal guard was composed of the strongest warriors the demon realm had to offer.

‘And leading these elite guards is typically a captain who ranks among the top ten most powerful demons in the realm.’

These captains were renowned figures, their names alone enough to inspire awe—or terror.

But today, that reputation was in jeopardy.

“Wow, demons really are something else,” Jeong-hyeon remarked, his sword slicing through yet another foe. “Their tough skin makes cutting them all the more satisfying.”

Before him stood Behemoth, the First Captain of the Duke’s Guard. Despite his imposing title, he was visibly shaken.

The human before him—mad enough to storm the heart of the demon realm alone—was unlike anything he had ever encountered. And worse, Jeong-hyeon seemed to be enjoying himself.

‘He’s completely unhinged.’

To Behemoth, this human resembled a rabid hellhound. And everyone knew the cure for a rabid hellhound was a firm beating.

Determined to handle the situation personally, Behemoth began to rise from his seat.

Or rather, he tried to.

The moment he attempted to stand, an overwhelming pressure slammed him back down, pinning him to the floor. His head hit the ground with a resounding thud, and no matter how much he struggled, he couldn’t move.

‘What…?’

It wasn’t just unexpected—it was inconceivable. His body, which had endured countless battles, was utterly powerless against this unseen force.

As he lay there, helpless, a calm yet mocking voice echoed above him.

“So, you’re the captain of the guard, huh?”

The tone was dripping with disdain. Under normal circumstances, Behemoth would have roared in fury and demanded retribution. But now, all he could do was listen.

“You called me here, and this is all you’ve got? You’re weaker than a paladin.”

The words stung more than any physical blow.

“Still, since we’re allies now, I won’t kill you.”

With that, a surge of divine power erupted from Jeong-hyeon, washing over the entire area. The force was so overwhelming that it knocked out every member of the extremist faction on the spot.

***

Jeong-hyeon surveyed the aftermath, his brows furrowing in disappointment.

He had come seeking a challenge, drawn by the supposed strength of the First Captain. Yet, what he found were opponents who couldn’t even rival a human paladin.

‘Weren’t demons supposed to be strong?’

He had expected a real fight—something to test his limits. Instead, these demons crumbled like dry leaves.

A bitter laugh escaped his lips.

‘I guess this is about what I should’ve expected.’

Even as he stood amidst the fallen, Jeong-hyeon’s mind was already moving to the next challenge. If this was the best the demon realm had to offer, he would simply have to raise the stakes.

Jeong-hyeon had already shown his overwhelming strength, toppling the elite guards of the demon realm with ease. His actions left a bitter aftertaste as he scuffed his boots over the fallen demons, ensuring they remained unconscious.

‘This is a poorly executed game, isn’t it?’

He muttered to himself, recalling a past memory of a rabbit meme, quietly cursing the lack of challenge. As he continued to complain, he noticed a familiar face approaching hurriedly—Shin Si-ah.

He waved his hand with a smile, eager to greet her, but Shin Si-ah’s face was contorted in despair. She sighed deeply, clearly torn between expressing her frustration and withholding it. Eventually, she chose the latter, burying her face in her hands in a gesture of hopelessness.

Jeong-hyeon, feeling a little awkward, tried to offer a reasonable excuse.

“It was necessary.”

Shin Si-ah glared at him, muttering in frustration. “Yes, it was necessary, but that doesn’t mean it was the right choice. There were far more efficient ways to handle this situation. Resorting to straightforward violence like this only breeds resistance—more problems in the long run…”

Jeong-hyeon nodded as if he understood, though he wasn’t fully convinced. He knew that a calmer, less aggressive approach would be better, but the problem was that such methods took time.

‘And I can’t afford to waste time.’

He thought about the others—Lucia, Charlotte, and Miria. Their combat abilities were comparatively weaker, so he wanted to resolve things in the demon realm quickly to return to the dormitory.

‘Besides, there’s no point in regretting what I’ve already done.’

He didn’t dwell on the past; the question now was what to do next. He listened to Shin Si-ah’s concerns but began to formulate his plan for the next steps.

‘The internal problems here will die down now. I just need to go out and capture those two dukes.’

Whether it meant killing them or taking them hostage, Jeong-hyeon could use the demon realm’s obsession with power to his advantage. He could easily force them under his control and integrate them into Shin Si-ah’s faction.

But just as he was about to take action, Shin Si-ah quickly called out to him.

“You’re not seriously thinking about storming out there and defeating the two dukes by yourself, are you?”

Jeong-hyeon froze for a moment. She had read his mind exactly.

Shin Si-ah, clearly frustrated, rubbed her temples and spoke again.

“No. You can’t do that. You understand, right?”

Jeong-hyeon looked at her, feeling a bit wronged.

“But the demon realm is built on the logic of power…”

“That’s the logic among demons. When different species are involved, that logic doesn’t apply. Especially not when the human hero—known as the enemy of all demons—suddenly barges in, knocks them all down, and demands they follow him because he’s stronger. Do you think they’ll just follow him?”

Jeong-hyeon sighed, reluctantly acknowledging that she was right. But it didn’t stop the frustration from mounting inside him.

Shin Si-ah’s reasoning made sense, but the situation felt like a deadlock. However, in that moment, a thought crossed Jeong-hyeon’s mind.

‘Wait… do I really need to unite the demon realm?’

Jeong-hyeon leaned against a pillar, his arms crossed casually as he shared his bold plan with Shin Si-ah.

“Instead of going through the trouble of unifying everything, why not just deal with the dukes directly? If I knock them down and pin it on the Church or the Kingdom, their subordinates will naturally come for revenge. Problem solved, right?”

Shin Si-ah’s face turned incredulous as she processed his suggestion. “And if they don’t come for revenge?”

“Then their territories will be left without a ruler. Reltra can swoop in and take over, expanding her influence. Win-win.”

For a moment, Shin Si-ah was silent, her expression vacillating between disbelief and exasperation. She finally spoke, her tone cautious.

“Are you serious?”

“Yep.”

His nonchalant reply made Shin Si-ah pinch the bridge of her nose, clearly battling frustration. After taking a moment to collect her thoughts, she laid out her argument.

“The biggest problem with your plan is that absorbing territories like that will cause a lot of internal issues. It’s not just about taking over; you’ll have to deal with the fallout, like rebellions and administrative chaos.”

Jeong-hyeon shrugged. “Then ship the troublemakers off to the human realm.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Send them off. Whether they get killed or not, I don’t care. My goal isn’t victory; it’s just creating a distraction.”

The casual dismissal of lives left Shin Si-ah wide-eyed, struggling to find the right words. After a moment, she stammered, “Th-that kind of approach might work, but isn’t it… unethical to treat allies like disposable pawns?”

“Unethical? That term applies to humans, not demons. They’re not covered under that umbrella.”

“…Then what, demonic ethics?” she muttered, wincing at how strange it sounded. Shin Si-ah sighed deeply, clearly grappling with the moral dilemma but ultimately conceding.

“Fine. Do whatever you want.”

“Thanks.”

With her reluctant blessing, Jeong-hyeon turned his attention to his next move—deciding which of the two dukes to target first. A rare, gleeful smile spread across his face as he relished the choice.

***

Standing before Reltra, Jeong-hyeon confidently announced, “I’ll take care of the two dukes. Just wait here.”

Reltra, her voice shaky, responded, “W-wait, what?”

“I said, I’m going to their territories, either capture them or kill them, and bring them back. Simple, right?”

Reltra’s expression turned blank, as if her brain refused to process the absurdity of his words. She stammered, “You’re… serious?”

“Of course. While I’m gone, prepare to absorb their territories once they’re gone.”

Reltra’s face twisted in visible discomfort. “Wait! Your plan—no matter how I think about it—doesn’t seem feasible. Even if it succeeds, managing those territories and unifying the demons under them will require experience and expertise. Do you have that?”

Jeong-hyeon dismissed her concerns with a wave of his hand. “That’s not my problem. Reltra, you’ll handle that part.”

“…What?”

“Good luck. I’m heading out now.”

“Wait! Just a moment!”

Jeong-hyeon, ignoring her protests, casually turned to Shin Si-ah and smirked.

“Oh, by the way, Reltra mentioned you have a birthmark under your chest. Is that true?”