June 21, Yuanfeng Year 1345.

Beneath the collapsed ruins of the Yuan Royal City, Aelis crept forward through the tunnels, gripping a light crystal.

He was alone; the collapse had scattered his companions.

Thankfully, they were skilled enough not to get crushed.

All this chaos started because one reckless teammate, eager to impress Larry, botched a move and wrecked most of the Demon King’s castle pillars and foundations.

Aelis finally understood Larry’s thoughts—truly wise. Maybe it was time to disband after this.

As a support character, Aelis had encountered many surviving monsters along the way. Out of kindness, he spared them the misery of darkness by sending them straight to hell.

He advanced cautiously, staying alert. As the team’s radar, his magic sensed distant sounds and life signs.

Suddenly, his radar blared an alert.

An unknown creature ahead—likely a high-tier monster.

Aelis raised an eyebrow and crept closer.

“Where is it? Where is it?”

Muttering grew clearer with each step, mixed with the scrape of rubble being dug up.

Aelis halted at a corner, peeking out. There knelt the Demon King himself—flashy robes, crown askew, demon horns poking through—kneeling messily in the dirt, digging.

At last, a burlap sack glinted under the firelight, spilling golden treasure.

“Oh~”

Aelis’s eyes locked onto the sack, clearly priceless.

Aelis:$_$

“Phew~ Finally recovered some savings. Time to bail.”

The Demon King showed no fight, ready to flee with his stash.

Aelis bristled! How could the final boss steal the adventurers’ rightful loot after conquering his castle?!

He leaped out, pointing: “Demon King! Your crimes are heinous, condemned by man and gods! Today, I, justice and money’s champion, shall smite you! Die!”

Startled, the Demon King snarled when he saw only Aelis. His handsome demon face twisted as he flexed his eight-pack abs and bulging arms. “Heaven’s gate was open, yet you chose hell’s path! Alone against me?! Die!”

Aelis:(￢_￢)

Aelis slapped on dozens of buffs—attack up, defense up, agility up, mental focus, iron skin…

Then, the mighty Demon King slammed vertically into the opposite tunnel wall, embedded deep.

“Heh heh, that’s all you’ve got? Trying to steal my treasure?”

Aelis gripped the demon horn he’d snapped off, grinning cruelly. He hoisted the sack of gold and jewels onto his shoulder.

“I’m a Level 90 S-Rank Adventurer!”

(Adventurer ranks were set by the Guild, not pure strength. They tracked mission experience—higher ranks meant tougher quests, richer rewards. Levels 80-100 earned the S-Rank title, reserved for elite members. Reaching it proved your prowess.)

“D-Damn it! I checked—this nation’s strongest were only B-Rank! Why’s an S-Rank here?!”

The one-horned Demon King whined. Rank-ups were brutal; many stalled at B-Rank forever. A-Rank was elite. S-Rank required saving a major nation. He’d picked this spot because it only had B-Rankers, planning a quick raid before moving on.

Now, his horn—a symbol of honor in the Demon Realm, his main energy channel—was broken. Demons relied on horns to gather power other races couldn’t.

Aelis jingled coins in the sack, sighing blissfully. “I came specially.”

The Demon King’s eyes bulged. “Huh?! Why?!”

Aelis shrugged. “Hero vs. Demon King is classic! I’ve never fought one. Heard you’d opened shop, so I rushed over. Another life goal checked—so fulfilling. This is my reward. Just like in games: beat the boss, grab loot. Perfectly reasonable.”

“Unreasonable! That’s my hard-earned savings! You’re robbing me!”

“Nonsense. A Demon King’s hoard is meant for the hero who defeats him. Common sense! I’m claiming my clear reward—not some lowly thief.”

“What ‘common sense’?! My property’s legally protected!”

“No law shields Demon Kings. You’re evil—slaughtering innocents, violating women. I heard you strip them naked, chase them under the sun, hunt them down, then eat them…”

Aelis listed crimes smoothly. The Demon King gaped.

“Stop! Lies! Pure slander! Since building this castle, I barely left its borders. I only took ‘protection fees’ from villages and dealt with troublemakers. I abolished all unfair taxes!”

Aelis paused. Nearby towns did seem livelier.

“What about violating women, making them run naked in the sun…”

“Wait! Slander! The whole Demon Realm knows I’m not into women! I’d rather nap on a gold-filled cushion! And stripping? I treat men the same—I loot everything! Not a scrap of cloth spared! Every copper counts! As for eating humans? Pah! Demon chefs declared human meat inedible ages ago. Goblin meat’s tastier. I’m no freak! This insults my honor!”

Aelis mused, “Makes sense. Neighboring nations would smear you. And female adventurers—you robbed them bare but ignored them. That’s a deep insult. No wonder your reputation’s trash.”

“Exactly! I’m innocent—give back my gold!”

The Demon King lunged for the sack. Aelis stomped his head into the dirt.

“Innocent? Invading nations, looting adventurers, humiliating women—that last one alone ruins you socially. Besides!”

Aelis smirked wickedly. “This is mine now! No one takes it!”

The Demon King fumed.

“You… you demon!”

Aelis grinned. “Thanks for the compliment. If demons call me a demon, two negatives make a positive—I’m a hero! The Demon King-slaying hero!”

The Demon King’s eyes blazed. He stumbled back.

“Robbing a man’s livelihood is like killing his parents! You forced my hand!”