Strongest Existence Becomes Teacher

Chapter 285: Shall We Solve It Together

Zane quietly followed the masked shadow guard through the Demon King’s Castle.

The interior was grand yet surprisingly calm. Demon maids carrying trays walked through the corridors while servants silently attended to their duties. Knights in dark armor stood at every intersection, their sharp eyes carefully observing anyone passing by.

Despite the heavy security, Zane simply walked with one hand inside his pocket as though he were touring a museum.

Eventually, the shadow guard stopped before a large wooden door.

"This is it... huh."

Zane looked at the door for a moment.

The shadow guard stepped aside.

"Enter."

"Master is waiting."

Without another word, Zane pushed the door open.

The room beyond was a spacious study.

Bookshelves lined the walls, while a large desk occupied the center. Behind it, tall windows overlooked almost the entire capital.

Standing before those windows was a man.

He had dark forest-green hair that reached his neck, rough facial hair covering part of his jaw, and three horns extending backward from his head—two from the sides and one from the center.

Slowly, he turned around.

Ruby-red slit eyes met Zane’s own.

"So..."

"You’re finally here."

Zane silently observed him for a brief moment before smiling.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

The Demon King gave a slight nod.

"Greetings..."

"...one-horned warrior."

"I am Phomet de Marl."

"The Demon King of this generation."

Zane nodded politely.

"I am Zane."

For a moment, silence settled inside the study.

Then Zane smiled again.

"Anyway, Your Majesty..."

"I’m rather curious."

"Why exactly have I been called here?"

Outwardly, he remained perfectly calm.

Internally, however, his thoughts were elsewhere.

He’s quite good...

He’s pretending everything is normal.

Meanwhile I can clearly sense Caelum somewhere beneath this castle...

Along with several other strange, faint presences.

His gaze subtly drifted toward the floor before returning to Phomet.

The Demon King folded his hands behind his back.

"Zane."

"The one-horned warrior."

Zane blinked.

...Why does he keep saying ’one-horned warrior’ every time?

Phomet continued without noticing Zane’s confusion.

"As you’ve probably already realized..."

"I’ve had people watching you."

"It was because of your unique constitution."

Zane tilted his head.

"Is that so?"

Phomet nodded.

"I have never seen a one-horned demon possess strength that even I find difficult to measure."

A faint smile appeared on the king’s face.

"That is why..."

"...you are the perfect candidate for the task I wish to bestow upon you."

Zane folded his arms.

"And what task would that be?"

The Demon King’s expression became serious.

"You’ve no doubt heard the rumors."

"This capital is currently being terrorized by a monster."

"Perhaps monsters."

"They appear during the night..."

"...attacking, killing, and devouring citizens."

He looked directly into Zane’s eyes.

"I want you to eradicate whatever is responsible."

"And bring its body back to me."

Zane remained silent for a few seconds.

Seriously...

Why do fantasy kings always hand these quests to random strong people?

If they’re so powerful, why don’t they deal with it themselves?

Is it because they’re kings and think the work is beneath them?

He nearly laughed at his own thought before returning to the conversation.

"Alright."

"What do I get in return?"

Phomet answered without hesitation.

"If you succeed..."

"You may choose any one item from the royal treasury."

He paused.

"Within reasonable limits."

Zane nodded slowly.

"Not a bad offer."

"For most people."

A smile spread across his face.

"But I’m not most people."

"I don’t really ne—"

His words stopped.

A memory surfaced.

Lucen.

His shattered condition.

The reason Chairman Caelum had traveled all the way to the Demon Kingdom.

The treasure capable of healing him...

A small smile slowly returned to Zane’s face.

"You know what..."

He let out a quiet chuckle.

"I’ll do this the legitimate way."

Looking directly at the Demon King, he gave a slight nod.

"I accept your terms."

"I’ll kill whatever is terrorizing this city..."

"...and I’ll bring its body back to you."

Phomet gave a slight nod.

"Then you may begin immediately."

He walked toward the window beside Zane and looked over the capital below.

"In only a few minutes..."

"...night will fall."

"The creature always becomes active after sunset."

Zane nodded quietly.

"I see."

Without another word, he walked toward the open window.

The evening breeze brushed against his clothes as he looked over the vast Demon King’s Capital.

Caelum...

Wait a little longer.

I’ve got a feeling this monster business is somehow connected to you.

Let’s see what kind of mystery is hiding beneath this city.

Behind him, Phomet spoke once more.

"Go, Zane."

"The one-horned demon warrior."

"Kill the monster before it devours another innocent citizen with its ferociousness."

His ruby-red eyes remained fixed on the darkening horizon.

"If we continue allowing it to roam freely..."

"...we may one day come to regret it."

A faint smile appeared on Zane’s face.

"Haha..."

"That sounded pretty ominous."

Without waiting for another word, he stepped onto the windowsill.

Then—

He jumped.

Instead of falling, his body glided smoothly through the air before soaring away from the castle.

Inside the study, Phomet silently watched him disappear into the evening sky.

His expression remained unreadable.

Only after Zane had completely vanished from sight did the room fall into silence once more.

--

Night descended upon the Demon King’s Capital.

The lively streets from earlier had completely emptied. Every shop was tightly shut, every window firmly closed, and not a single person could be seen outside.

Silence ruled the city.

Only one person casually walked through the deserted streets.

Zane looked around leisurely with both hands tucked inside his pockets.

"...Ah."

A look of regret crossed his face.

"Dang it."

"I should’ve asked that guy in the castle for something to eat before coming out."

He sighed.

Meanwhile...

Farther ahead, one of the last remaining shops was hurriedly closing for the night.

The elderly demon shopkeeper nervously looked left and right while pulling down the wooden shutters.

Just as he was about to lock them—

"Wait!"

A demon man came running toward him.

"Please!"

"Don’t close yet!"

"My son suddenly became sick!"

"I need some medicinal herbs!"

The shopkeeper’s face immediately changed.

"No, no!"

"Get out of here!"

"I’m closing!"

"It’s already curfew!"

The frightened father desperately shook his head.

"Please!"

"My son really needs them!"

The shopkeeper cursed under his breath.

"...Damn it."

He reluctantly turned around.

"Wait here."

"Why do people always come shopping after curfew?"

"One day I’m seriously going to die because of idiots like you..."

Grumbling the entire time, he grabbed several medicinal herbs and threw them toward the man.

"Here."

"Now take them and get the hell out."

The father caught them with trembling hands.

Tears gathered in his eyes.

"Thank you..."

"Thank you so much."

The shopkeeper waved him away impatiently.

"Go!"

"Run home!"

"You know what’s been happening around here."

The man nodded repeatedly before sprinting away into the empty streets.

The shopkeeper immediately resumed closing the shop.

Just as he reached for the final lock—

Grrrr...

A low growl echoed behind him.

His entire body froze.

Cold sweat rolled down his face.

Slowly...

Very slowly...

He turned around.

Nothing.

The street behind him was completely empty.

"...Phew..."

He let out a shaky breath.

"It was just my imagination..."

Trying to calm himself, he turned back toward the door.

"AHHHH—"

His scream was abruptly cut short.

...

The demon father continued hurrying through the empty streets, constantly glancing over his shoulder.

His heart pounded inside his chest.

Then—

Tap...

Tap...

Tap...

A strange sound echoed behind him.

Horse hooves.

His face immediately turned pale.

No...

At this hour...

That definitely isn’t a horse...

Without daring to look back, he quickened his pace.

The hoofbeats became faster.

Tap. freeweɓnøvel.com

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

The demon finally broke into a run.

The sound behind him continued chasing him through the empty streets.

Eventually his lungs burned and his legs began to give out.

He slowed down.

Silence.

The hoofbeats had stopped.

Breathing heavily, he cautiously looked behind him.

Nothing.

"...It’s gone?"

Relief washed over him.

He turned around again—

A blade was directly in front of his eyes.

Time seemed to freeze.

His entire life flashed before him.

Death...

Was right there.

Then suddenly—

A hand grabbed the back of his neck.

His body was pulled backward before the blade could reach him.

A calm, confident voice echoed beside him.

"Finally found you."

The demon stumbled backward as the hand released him.

When he steadied himself, he finally saw his savior.

A one-horned demon.

Black hair.

Deep purple eyes.

An unbelievably calm expression.

Even though they shared the same race, something about the man’s presence felt completely different.

Only then did the demon finally look toward the creature that had nearly killed him.

His breathing stopped.

A black horse stood silently in the middle of the street.

Sitting atop it was a headless knight clad in ancient armor.

Its severed head rested calmly in one hand.

Zane didn’t even take his eyes off the creature.

"You."

He casually spoke to the frightened demon behind him.

"Go."

"I’ll handle things here."

The demon nodded frantically before running away without looking back.

Only after he had completely disappeared did Zane return his attention to the knight.

"A dullahan..."

He tilted his head.

"If this is all there is..."

"I’m honestly not impressed."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"...But your mana feels familiar."

Almost as though responding to those words, the dullahan slowly lifted the head it had been carrying.

The face became visible.

For the first time that night...

Zane looked genuinely surprised.

"...Caelum?"

His brows furrowed.

"You became a dullahan?"

A moment later he shook his head.

"No..."

"That doesn’t make sense."

"I can still clearly sense Caelum beneath the castle."

His expression slowly became thoughtful.

"Wait..."

"That’s even stranger."

He observed the dullahan more carefully.

"You’re a creature of darkness..."

"...yet you’re emitting pure mana."

Before he could think further—

Rustle.

Something moved behind him.

Without even turning, Zane smiled.

"Here comes another one."

He slowly looked over his shoulder.

A massive werewolf stepped out from the darkness.

Curved demon horns protruded from its head while fresh blood dripped from its jaws.

Yet...

Just like the dullahan...

It too radiated pure mana.

The smile on Zane’s face widened.

"You lot..."

"...are quite the mystery."

He slowly cracked his neck.

"Well then."

"Shall we solve it together?"