Chapter 172: GreetingMagan had sent a separate invitation for the banquet to the already dead Deus Verdi and Norseweden for his amusement and to warn them.


    It was a warning to return Saintess Ste''s left arm, which once belonged to him, and a pretense of ignorance regarding Deus Verdi''s death.


    It was a bizarre joke that only demons wouldugh at.


    However,


    "Am I seeing this correctly?"


    Leaning against the balcony, Magan had his eyes fixed on Deus as he stepped out of the carriage.


    Magan casually inquired as if it were natural, despite the considerable distance that would have made it impossible for an ordinary person to see.


    The secretary with emerald hair standing next to him kept her mouth shut, unable to utter a word.


    She wasn''t an ordinary person either, so she could see Deus as well, but she was unable to exin why someone they thought to be dead was still alive.


    Her role was to assist Magan to the best of her abilities and provide him with the delicacies and answers he desired, but now, she had no choice but to remain silent."Do humans obtain an additional life if they be a Soul Whisperer?"


    "..."


    "Huh? Tell me. You see, I''m not too sure as I''m not human. How much karma does one have to umte in order to gain another life? Is one coupon¹ enough?”


    "No, sir."


    "Right? They don''t, right?"


    Magan guffawed, his double chin shaking. However, the damage inflicted by the explosion of Lemegeton in his stomach was notpletely healed yet.


    His abdomen began aching the moment he saw Deus, making him realize that no matter how much he ate, the pain would not dissipate naturally.


    "That’s right, Deus Verdi."


    <em>Lick</em>.


    Magan''s tongue swept across his thick lips. He hadn''t felt like this since he had seen Saintess Ste.


    Someone he wanted to devour but was unable to— that man was standing on the soil of the Republic, which was practically his dining table, yet he couldn''t reach him.


    He forcibly restrained his impulse to step onto the balcony railing and rush towards Deus.


    "Eventually, he too will be served as a meal before you, Lord Magan."


    "Yes, of course he will. It seems like it will be necessary to make some adjustments to the original n."


    Hearing his secretary''s words, Magan, who was struggling to calm himself, took a deep breath but did not take his eyes off Deus.


    "I still feel like that man''s right arm is inside my stomach."


    He had to admit that it was indeed a delicacy. A human who had borne numerous resentments and karma and ovee various hardships was so sweet, that even his tongue rejoiced.


    "<em>Ahhhh~</em>"


    Magan''s voice resounded low, carrying genuine regret.


    "He’s truly appetizing."


    ***The moment Deus mmed the warp marker onto the ground, a giant pir of light descended from the sky.


    Findenai and Aria were indifferent as they had seen this spectacle before, but some of the other party members and a few soldiers from the Republic looked up, with their mouths agape.


    The golden pir soon took the shape of people, with a blonde girl standing at the forefront.


    Eleanor Luden Griffin.


    Compared to when they hade to rescue Findenai, there were more people this time. Along with the Presiding Mage Tribunal Judge, Tyren Ol Velocus, arge contingent of knights were also present.


    No matter the circumstances, it would be too dangerous for King Orpheus to attend the banquet personally, and it wouldn’t have looked good if the citizens of the kingdom learnt that their king had traveled directly to the Republic.


    Since a king always had to remain serious and dignified, he couldn''t show himself responding that quickly and easily just because the Republic had called him over, especially while they were still engaged in a war of nerves.


    Nevertheless, to maintain a minimal level of courtesy, it was decided that Eleanor, a member of the Royal Family, would attend on his behalf. This was because she also actively pushed for it.


    "Princess."


    Deus slowly knelt before her. He intended to kiss her hand, but Eleanor signaled that it was unnecessary with a considerate smile.


    "I''ve heard everything."


    She would have been more agreeable if it were Kim Shinwoo, but she didn''t want it from the current Deus.


    "You''ve worked hard, and please continue doing so."


    "Yes, I understand."


    Just like how Darius had once managed to act convincingly in front of the clerics, Deus seemed to have some talent as an actor as well. Only those who had been around Kim Shinwoo for a while could feel that Deus’ acting stillcked something.


    "May I see your arm for a moment?"


    A woman wearing a white priestess robe emerged from the group of people who had warped over.


    It was the Saintess, Lucia Saint.


    After confirming that Magan, a Demon Lord, ruled over the Republic, Lucia hade over personally to counteract that threat.


    Seeing Deus'' now missing right arm, Lucia''s expression darkened.


    "Oh, Goddess Justia."


    Luciamented to the Goddess she served and took a moment to pray for Deus.


    After the prayer ended, she slowly opened her eyes, and Deus swallowed hard and expressed his gratitude.


    "Descendants of the Great Griffin, pleasee this way."


    A man hade over to greet Eleanor.


    Although he was extremely polite, his posture and manner of speaking suggested that he, too, held a high rank.


    At Eleanor''s subtle nce, Deus took his ce on her left, as instructed by Deia.


    Saintess Lucia stood at the right, and right behind her stood the Presiding Mage Tribunal Judge Tyren, exuding the dignity of Griffin.


    "Straighten your shoulders."


    Deia, who was right behind, warned Deus, prompting him to naturally straighten his shoulders and look around.


    The hospitality disyed by the soldiers of the Republic, lined up orderly, evoked a level of grandeur that Deus had nevere across before in his life.


    "Don''t look around too much."


    "..."


    He was not even allowed to sightsee.


    Anyway, Deus solely focused on the rigid tile pathid out in front of him, ignoring the piercing marching songs, the erupting cheers of the citizens, and the stern escort of soldiers.


    At the end of the long parade,rge feet and thick thighs came into his view. Even from a distance, the presence felt imposing.


    Perhaps due to the straight path, the pressure that presence exuded hit him full force without any hindrance.


    It was far from being fighting spirit.


    The one who understood this best was the Presiding Mage Tribunal Judge, Tyren Ol Velocus.


    Having faced countless murderous intents and fighting spirits head on, he could immediately recognize that the emotion emanating from Demon Lord Magan in the distance was vastly different from those hostile aggressions.


    However, while Tyren could recognize the difference, he couldn''t articte it any further. It was Eleanor who identified that emotion.


    "Voracity."


    A primal yet profoundly universal desire. And currently, Eleanor could feel that the man, embodying one of the three great desires—the voracity that everyone naturally possessed—was looking straight at Deus.


    Realizing that he was being seen as mere food, Eleanor frowned deeply and stepped to the left.


    She naturally positioned Deus behind her, intercepting the greedy gaze directed at him.


    "<em>Huff, hup</em>."


    Deus, who was struggling to breathe due to the pressure of the Demon Lord, managed to catch his breath thanks to Eleanor''s help.


    However, as he had to maintain his expression and remainposed, it prolonged the grueling time.


    "Oh my, I am greatly honored that the Princess herself hase."


    Magan extended his hand with a friendly smile. To anyone else, he might have appeared warm and kind.


    With a demeanor resembling that of a considerably overweight neighbor, Magan made eye contact with Eleanor, who also responded with a smile.


    "Thank you for arranging this meeting for the peace of our nations."


    "Haha, I am simply delighted that I am able to step forward for the greater good of the continent!"


    After exchanging pleasantries with Eleanor, Magan greeted the Saintess.


    "Saintess, the Sun of the continent. The continent remains so bright thanks to you."


    "…You tter me.”


    Lucia couldn''t hide her unease as she never expected that she would be conversing like this with a Demon Lord.


    Magan had hidden his demonic aura so perfectly, that he didn''t seem to be a demon at all.


    Had she not been informed beforehand, she would never have guessed he was a Demon Lord.


    Hence, Lucia felt that she was stillcking whenpared to the previous Saintess.


    Next, Magan approached the Soul Whisperer Deus.


    Observing Magan''s massive size and build, Deus felt like he might be crushed at any moment.


    "It has been a while, Soul Whisperer."


    Magan slyly extended his right hand, then tapped his forehead with augh.


    "Oh, right! You do not have a hand there!"


    "…"


    "I was inconsiderate. Here, let me offer you my left hand."


    Magan''s eyes gleamed menacingly as he extended his left hand.


    As far as he knew, Deus Verdi was dead, so Magan was testing whether this Deus was truly the one he knew or a fake.


    Sensing that, Deia broke into a cold sweat as she anxiously watched what Deus would do next.


    If Deus smiled as if it were fine with him or shook hands casually, Magan’s suspicions would be confirmed.


    During this brief but dangerous psychological battle, Deus made his choice.


    <em>Plop</em>.


    He decided to thrust his hand into his pocket.


    It was a clear refusal to shake hands with him.


    While it may have appeared rude to the onlookers, however, as Magan had insulted him with the remark about his missing right arm first, it was not an unreasonable response.


    "Hmm…"


    Magan licked his lips, barely restraining his appetite.


    <em>Is he the real one? Did he manage to survive and return?</em>


    Magan had an ambiguous expression on his face as he pondered internally, but he turned away without saying much. Only then did Deus slowly pull his hand out of his pocket, barely able to breathe.


    "Well done."


    Deia whispered carefully, and Deus turned his head slightly.


    His expression was a mess, and he looked like he was on the verge of tears.


    "I-I just didn’t want to shake hands because I was scared."


    "Yes, yes. You unexpectedly lucked out by backing away."


    From Deus’ perspective, thinking he might be eaten the moment he took that hand, he had just run away in fear.


    Thanks to the tension freezing the muscles in his face, it helped him maintain his expression and deceive the Demon Lord.


    Of course, Magan’s suspicions weren''t erased entirely.


    "<em>Sigh</em>, there''s still a long way to go."


    Knowing that the banquet had just begun, Deia kept her eyes on Magan’s back, still feeling tense.


    However, on the other hand, at the moment when all eyes were on Deus, Deia failed to notice that Magan''s gaze had shifted beyond Deus and hadnded on her.<ol>1. The original raws say ''? ???'' or ''One Coin?''. If you have ever read Ready yer One or watched the movie, you can see that a "Coin" signifies an extra life (spoiler alert), which is what is the case for most retro games. It inherently stands for a "reservation" to an arcade game or the "amount" given to y a game in Korea. As such, in the frame of Korean culture, "One coin?" implies, "Oh, so you can y again, even though it''s Game Over?".


    We chose to go with ''One coupon'' to fit Magan''s character and the setting of the story.</ol>