‘Hmm, I don't recall being in this area the last time I visited. I suppose this must be a different section of the palace.’ Zealot thought.

Zealot could sense the Demon Queen's power radiating through this small world, and he braced himself for the encounter. Jack's party followed him cautiously, their earlier confidence starting to wane as they took in their new surroundings.

As Jack's party journeyed further into the Demon Queen's realm alongside Zealot, the dark, foreboding atmosphere and the oppressive magical energy made them feel out of place and uneasy. Their weapons were drawn, but uncertainty flickered in their eyes.

"Alright, follow me this way," Zealot instructed, gesturing for Jack's party to stay close behind.

Zealot led them deeper into the palace, keeping a careful eye on Jack's party. He knew they were formidable, but in the Demon Queen's domain, even the strongest adventurers could face an unexpected end. The Demon Queen's power far surpassed that of ordinary humans, and her twelve Demon Knights were forces to be reckoned with.

All this time, Jack's party had remained unusually quiet. Zealot, having read their thoughts, could sense they were overwhelmed with fear, anxiety, and a touch of panic.

‘Everything is going as planned. As long as I remain in this small world, Demon Queen Terasia and her knights will handle Jack's party for me. Now, I just need to come up with a convincing excuse to get Queen Terasia to allow me to leave this realm again.’

As they entered the central hall of the palace, the tension in the air grew palpable. The hall was vast and majestic, with high ceilings and elegant, sinister decor. Sunlight streamed in through the towering windows, casting long shadows across the floor. The air hummed with dark magic, and the party felt the oppressive weight of the Demon Queen's presence bearing down on them, along with the formidable presence of her twelve Demon Knights.

Suddenly, a voice echoed through the throne hall, chilling and authoritative. "Zealot, you have returned," Demon Queen Terasia's voice resonated, her tone laced with both intrigue and annoyance.

Zealot's gaze shifted to the source of the voice, and he saw Queen Terasia sitting on her ornate throne at the far end of the throne hall. Her appearance was as striking as ever, with long, flowing hair as red as fire and piercing crimson eyes. Her regal presence commanded respect, and Jack's party instinctively took a step back, their confidence shaken.

‘What a terrifying aura! As expected from a Demon King's wife. Although I'm not certain of her exact level, it must be close to S-Class or even higher. Phew, I'm relieved that I'm not the one who has to face her—that's for Jack's party to handle,’ Zealot thought.

"Demon Queen Terasia," Zealot greeted her with a respectful bow, though he maintained his composure. "I have returned with an unexpected complication."

Queen Terasia’s eyes narrowed as she looked over the group of human adventurers. "Explain yourself," she demanded, her voice icy.

Zealot quickly recounted the situation to the Demon Queen, emphasizing how Jack's party had cornered him and demanded access to the Demon King's treasure room. He made it clear that he had been forced to lead them into her realm to protect himself and maintain the ruse of fulfilling their demands.

"Their greed has led them to seek the treasure room," Zealot explained. "But I brought them here instead, knowing that your judgment upon them would be far more appropriate—”

Before Zealot could continue, Jack's party interrupted him, their voices echoing with rage.

"You deceiving bastard!" Jack shouted, his face twisted with fury. "We knew you couldn't be trusted! You've led us right into a trap!"

"We'll make you pay for this, demon!" David added, brandishing his weapon. "You've sealed your fate by trying to play us!"

"You're a dead man, Zealot!" Alicia screamed, her eyes blazing with anger. "This time, there's no escape for you!"

"We should have killed you when we had the chance!" John spat, glaring at Zealot. "Now you're gonna pay for every lie you told us!"

"Enough of your tricks, demon!" Carl bellowed, his grip tightening on his sword. "You're finished!"

Just as Jack's party was about to kill Zealot in a fit of rage, the twelve Demon Knights swiftly moved into position, forming a protective barrier between Zealot and the adventurers. Their movements were fluid and graceful, showcasing their incredible speed and agility. Each knight was armed and ready, their menacing stances leaving no doubt about their formidable combat prowess.

The adventurers immediately halted their advance, their previous confidence replaced by fear and trepidation. They had heard rumors of the Demon Knights' fearsome reputation, but facing them in person was an entirely different experience.

The lead knight, a tall figure clad in dark armor with a flowing crimson cape, spoke in a commanding voice. "Stand down, mortals! You dare threaten the Demon Queen's servant in her own domain?! Your recklessness will not be tolerated!"

Jack's party exchanged uneasy glances, realizing they were now in a dire situation. They were heavily outmatched by the twelve Demon Knights, and their hopes of overpowering Zealot were dashed. Their grip on their weapons loosened, and they hesitated, unsure of how to proceed.

‘As expected from the twelve Demon Knights, I knew I could rely on them to protect me in a crucial moment,’ Zealot thought. He was confident that Demon Queen Terasia and her knights would come to his aid, as he was a demon like them and therefore under their protection.

Demon Queen Terasia glared at Jack's party, her eyes flashing with anger and her expression filled with disdain. "Foolish mortals!" she sneered. “How dare you attempt to kill one of my fellow demons in my presence and violate my domain in search of treasure?!”

Zealot gave Jack's party a sinister smile, fully aware that their fate was sealed. His malevolent grin only intensified their anger, yet they found themselves helpless to act against him.

"That son of a bitch!" Jack exclaimed, seething with fury.

"Fucking bastard! We should have killed him earlier!" Carl shouted, his anger evident.

"I know! It's infuriating to think we're going to die without getting our revenge!" David fumed.

"Lower your weapons!" the lead Demon Knight commanded, his gaze locked on Jack's party. "You are intruders in this realm, and your lives now hang by a thread."

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

The adventurers reluctantly obeyed, pretending to lower their weapons while remaining vigilant, keeping a cautious eye on the Demon Knights.

Meanwhile, Zealot took advantage of the lull in the confrontation to step back, seeking safety behind the Demon Knights. He watched as the situation unfolded, his earlier plan now seemingly on the verge of success.

As Jack's party realized they were trapped in the heart of the Demon Queen's realm, their initial anger and frustration turned to desperation. They knew they were facing overwhelming odds against the twelve Demon Knights and the Demon Queen herself. Despite the danger, they refused to go down without a fight, their determination fueled by a sense of pride and a desire for revenge against Zealot.

Jack stepped forward, his sword drawn and his eyes locked on Zealot with a mix of hatred and defiance. "If we're going down, we might as well take you with us, demon!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the throne hall.

David, Carl, Alicia, and John followed suit, drawing their weapons and preparing for battle. They knew they were outmatched, but they were determined to give it their all and take down as many enemies as possible.

Zealot observed their display of defiance with a smirk. ‘Hehe, seems like they've completely lost it,’ he thought to himself.

The twelve Demon Royal Knights exchanged knowing glances, their expressions showing a mixture of amusement and cold indifference. They had faced countless foes in their long existence, and these human adventurers were nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

"Die, you filthy demons!" Jack shouted, his voice full of rage as he charged into battle, the rest of his party close behind him.

"We'll make you regret crossing us!" David roared, joining the fray.

"You picked the wrong humans to mess with!" Carl added, his voice full of defiance as he swung his weapon.

The lead Demon Knight stepped forward, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Your bravado amuses us, mortals. But know this, you cannot defeat us! Your fate was sealed the moment you entered this realm!"

Another Demon Knight laughed mockingly. "You'll be nothing more than a fleeting memory in our long existence!"

"You fight with spirit, but it won't save you," a third Demon Knight added with a cruel grin, readying himself for battle.

Without another word, the Demon Knights sprang into action with breathtaking speed and precision, fulfilling their claims of superiority.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

TING! TING! TING!

FIREBALL! ICEBALL SLAM! RAIN ARROW!

"Hahaha! It's futile, you mortals! Just give up and accept your end," the lead Demon Knight taunted, his voice echoing with contempt. "Your resistance only prolongs the inevitable."

The battle was brutal. Jack's party fought valiantly, but the Demon Knights easily outmaneuvered and overpowered them. The knights' exceptional skill and seamless coordination left the adventurers unable to land any meaningful blows, turning their defiance into futility.

Jack swung his sword in a desperate attempt to strike one of the knights, but his attack was effortlessly parried. The knight retaliated with a swift, precise strike, incapacitating Jack in one smooth motion. The other adventurers faced a similar fate, as the Demon Knights took them down one by one with ruthless efficiency.

Alicia's spells were countered with ease, her incantations falling flat against the knights' superior magical abilities. Carl's ferocious attacks were met with deadly precision, his defenses quickly broken down. David's arrows found no mark, intercepted by the knights' quick reflexes. John, despite his strength and determination, was swiftly overpowered by the knights' coordinated assault.

Within minutes, Jack's party lay defeated on the ground, their weapons scattered and their bodies battered and bloodied. The twelve Demon Knights stood victorious, their armor unmarred, and their expressions unchanged.

Zealot watched the battle unfold with a sense of satisfaction, knowing that Jack's party had been dealt with decisively. He had anticipated this outcome and now felt a sense of relief as the threat against him was eliminated.

‘Damn! These twelve Demon Knights are truly ruthless and formidable fighters,’ Zealot thought. ‘I'm relieved they are my allies and not my enemies.’

Demon Queen Terasia rose from her throne, her gaze fixed on Zealot. "You have done well to lead these intruders here, Zealot," she said, her voice cold and commanding. "They have paid the price for their foolishness."

Zealot bowed respectfully, acknowledging the Demon Queen's authority. "Thank you, Your Highness," he replied. "Regrettably, it was the only means to safeguard myself from their threats."

The Demon Queen nodded, her eyes narrowing as she considered the situation. "You have served me well in this matter, Zealot. However, you must take care not to bring any further trouble to my realm. I will not tolerate any disruptions."

Zealot knew he needed to tread carefully to maintain the Demon Queen's favor. "Of course, Your Highness. I will take your words to heart and ensure that such incidents do not occur again."

Demon Queen Terasia's expression softened slightly before shifting topics. "And what of the key? Have you succeeded in obtaining the blood of my late husband, Demon King Zealot, as you were tasked to?”

Zealot felt a surge of apprehension as Demon Queen Terasia shifted the conversation to the key—the blood of Demon King, Zealot. This was a critical element he had failed to retrieve previously, and he knew he would need to navigate this situation delicately.

He took a moment to collect his thoughts, preparing a response that would satisfy the Demon Queen while maintaining her favor. He did not want to reveal the full extent of his failure, as it could put him in a precarious position.

"Your Highness, I regret to inform you that obtaining the key—King Zealot's blood—has proven more challenging than anticipated," Zealot began, his tone respectful and measured. "I encountered unexpected interference from a group of human adventurers, led by someone named Jack. Their persistent meddling obstructed my efforts and ultimately prevented me from retrieving the key. Fortunately, the twelve knights dealt with these humans, who were getting in the way of my mission. Nevertheless, I assure you that I am diligently working on securing the key as soon as possible.”

Demon Queen Terasia's expression darkened as she listened to Zealot's explanation. Her eyes glowed with a faint, menacing light, and Zealot could sense her displeasure. He knew he had to tread carefully; any sign of weakness or further failure could lead to serious consequences.

"You were entrusted with a crucial task, Zealot," the Demon Queen said, her tone cold and authoritative. "I expect you to overcome any obstacle that comes your way. This failure is unacceptable, and I will not tolerate further delays."

Zealot nodded, maintaining his composure despite the intensity of her gaze. "I understand, Your Highness. I will do everything in my power to rectify the situation and obtain the key as quickly as possible. I assure you I will not fail you again."

Demon Queen Terasia regarded him for a moment, her piercing gaze scrutinizing his every move. After a tense silence, she spoke again. "Very well. See that you do not disappoint me again. Your loyalty will be rewarded, but failure will have consequences."

"I will not let you down, Your Highness," Zealot responded, his voice steady and resolute.

The Demon Queen's attention then shifted away from Zealot, dismissing him from her focus. “You may leave now, Zealot. My knights will safely escort you out. But remember, you must obtain the blood of the Demon King without further delay.”

"Yes, Your Highness. I will now take my leave and not waste a moment in carrying out your orders.”

At this very moment, Zealot's mind raced with thoughts of never ever returning to this palace again. Despite being granted permission to leave, he still felt the heavy burden of the Demon Queen's expectations weighing on him, urging him to leave quickly to avoid inciting her wrath further.

As Zealot was about to leave, he bowed respectfully one last time and then followed the Demon Knights as they escorted him to the exit portal. He had narrowly escaped a dangerous situation, but he knew he had learned a valuable lesson about the power and authority of the Demon Queen and her knights.

"Alright, go now. Remember to stay safe and make sure you return alive with the key," said the Lead Demon Knight.

“I'll do my best. You can count on me to return with the key.” Zealot replied.

With that, Zealot stepped through the portal and found himself back in the familiar surroundings of his own castle. The intense confrontation with Jack's party and the unsettling encounter with the Demon Queen had finally been resolved, bringing him a much-needed sense of relief. Now, he could at last find solace and peace within the walls of his home.

With Jack's party gone and the Demon Queen's warnings in mind, Zealot realized he needed to be more cautious in the future. Though his cunning skills had served him well this time, he understood that he had to maintain a delicate balance to avoid attracting unwanted attention from powerful forces.