The Demon King's First General
Chapter 134: Court of Courtesy

Chapter 134: Court of Courtesy

"Eliana," Zeno whispered as soon as the dice stopped spinning and the surface with three white skulls exuded radiance.

A white line only visible from Zeno emerged; it encircled him before it expanded towards the edge of the forest. It continued to increase in size until it reached a certain area, which made Zeno smile.

’So that’s where you are hiding,’ he thought, and Eliana’s Legacy vanished without a trace.

Kizeler was stupefied upon seeing the arcs on the side of the demon’s mouth. Even when it came to thinking, Zeno clapped him big time. He was nowhere near his capabilities.

"Did you find him or that friend he talked about?" He asked.

Strangeness could be seen written on his face.

"No, but I found an unusual place, and maybe we can find some clues about him in there," Zeno replied, then he marched towards the forest.

The villagers were staring at them with curiosity and hope in their eyes. Curious about the place the silver-haired man talked about and hoping that they would be successful in bringing back the lost child.

. . . . .

Kizeler followed Zeno all along; the path they went had grasses and shrubs taller than the two of them, yet Zeno walked at ease even though Kizeler couldn’t see where they were exactly going.

He just heightened his senses just in case some monster would approach them, though he believed that with Zeno in front, no one would dare do so.

Then, after a moment, the demon stopped in front of a withered tree. Based on its appearance, it was dying; no, it was already dead from Kizeler’s perspective. It had a thin trunk, broken branches, and scattered twigs beside its roots; it was not the only tree without any leaves in that area, but its horrible appearance made it stand out.

"Is this the place you’re talking about? It’s simple and plain," Kizeler stated as he let his eyes roam around.

’What’s so special about a dying tree?’ He wondered.

Zeno smiled, then placed his hand on the tree trunk and his pure energy bagan to channel towards it.

"Don’t let your eyes fool you; not all that you see is reality. Sometimes, you just need to let your instinct take over, and it will lead you to a place..." Zeno paused for a while, then pulled his hand, and a large portion of the skin of the tree stuck on his palm.

"That you never expect to exist," the demon added while staring at the white-colored portal that was revealed on the trunk.

’I found you, at last!’ Zeno grinned upon stepping his foot inside the curtain of white light.

Kizeler dropped his jaw as he blinked a few times after Zeno disappeared right in front of him. Seconds later, he got his reasoning back and shouted.

"Hey! Wait for me!" He said before jumping inside the portal.

Serene waves of blue sweep through Kizeler’s eyes; floating fluffy white clouds drifting through the wind made him gulp a few times. He looked down below and was surprised to see that he was floating up in the air.

"What is this? Where are we?" He wondered, trying his best not to be outbalanced.

He made a step and even attempted to jump. He was not using his energy, yet it felt like there was an invisible platform underneath his feet.

Several meters away from them, there was a huge golden staircase with uncountable steps. Kizeler raised his head, trying to peek where the stairs were leading; however, it was so high that he couldn’t see the end of it at all.

The demon glanced at him and shook his head upon seeing the human’s mesmerized expression.

"I’m not in the position to introduce this place, but..." Zeno said, then he made a step forward and headed in the direction of the stairs.

"Welcome to Arcadia!" Zeno exclaimed, his tone condescending, yet his eyes looked as if they were mocking the place.

. . . . .

"Hmnn, what an unusual visitor," a woman lying down in a pile of clouds uttered.

She was dressed in white clothing, and her hair and eyes were sparkling with golden radiance. She sat up, and a man also dressed in white came to her side.

"They are already climbing the stairs, Your Grace. I removed all the stationed angels as you previously instructed," the man reported.

"Very well," the woman replied, then stood up to prepare herself to meet her guests.

Then she noticed the unusual gaze of the man beside her, so she asked. "What’s the matter, Endelle?"

The man flinched upon hearing his name being called, but he made his resolve and answered with a question.

"Your Grace, I’m not worthy to stand by your side and to question your decisions, but why did you let a filthy demon enter your palace? Once the other deities have learned about this, they’ll be furious," he said while his eyes remained staring below.

The woman smiled as if she already expected the question.

"You’ll know once you meet him," she answered with a smile, and after that, she left, leaving the man with an unusual expression.

’I, Endelle, won’t let anyone, especially a lowly demon, tarnish your name,’ he thought, and a golden spear appeared right beside him.

. . . . .

"Are we not there yet?" Kizeler complained.

They were climbing the stairs for hours, yet he still couldn’t see the end of it.

"It’s the special trait of this place; if you’re not patient enough, you’ll never reach the top," Zeno answered.

"Can you just fly up there and carry me?" Kizeler replied, feeling tired.

He looked down below, but aside from the clouds and the stairs, there was nothing to see in that place.

"That won’t do; levitating with the use of energy in this place is impossible; only those with wings can do it," Zeno replied.

"Then how long do we need to climb up?" Kizeler complained.

"Relax and just continue; erase any thoughts about these stairs, and we’ll be there in no time," Zeno said.

And like the demon suggested, Kizeler did it. He calmed his mind and watched the drifting clouds on their side, and afterward, their feet reached the last step, and a floating palace greeted them.

Like the stairs, the whole place was covered in gold.

"Is this even real?" Kizeler’s voice trembled as he stared at the sight before him.

"Heh? This place still looks the same," Zeno stated as he surveyed the towering walls.

The next second, the giant gate slowly opened, and a woman whose appearance would make all the human princesses that Kizeler met pale in comparison stood at the entrance.

With a mellisonant voice, enough to reverberate in the place, the woman spoke.

"To think that you’ll initiate to visit me here, I’m truly glad, Arthur," she said.

"Arthur?" Kizeler whispered, confused upon hearing a name he had never heard until now.

"Oh, your companion, it’s indeed surprising that someone managed to walk alongside you and a human utmost," the woman commented, then strode towards the two and stopped a few meters away from them.

"Would you like to introduce me to him, Arthur, or should I do it myself?" She giggled; her smile was enough to melt Kizeler’s heart.

"We’re not here to play, Sherise; stop teasing him," Zeno uttered with his usual cold expression.

"You’re still the same affectionless demon I once knew," the woman pouted, then turned around and walked into the gate entrance.

With a side glance towards the two people, she invited them inside.

"Come with me; I’ve prepared a feast for the both of you," she said.

Then, the moment Zeno and Kizeler entered the gigantic gate, the woman turned around to face them once more.

"Welcome to my palace, one of the Septenaries of Arcadia, the Court of Courtesy!" She exclaimed, and beings with white feathery wings lined up into the horizon.

. . . . .

Different kinds of delicacies were served at a round table where Kizeler, Zeno, and a woman named Sherise sat down.

Kizeler almost drooled after seeing the meals; there were freshwater green lobsters, roasted horned rabbits, honey garlic serpent chops, and many others.

"These tastes are out of this world!" Kizeler exclaimed after savoring a bite!

"Thank goodness, you like them." Sherise smiled upon seeing the delight on Kizeler’s face.

Then she looked at the demon, who was not even getting a piece of meat.

"I don’t have any souls for you to eat; don’t be too picky," the deity stated, teasing the demon.

Zeno placed the utensils beside his plate and leaned his elbow into the table before looking straight into the deity’s eyes.

"I’m not here for this; I have a few questions circling in my mind, and I hope that this old friend of mine can help me understand them," Zeno said.

"Let me guess—the prophecy, the human princess, and a missing child." Sherise stared back at the demon.

Her bright eyes were flickering with golden radiance.

"I really hate that Blessing of yours." Zeno shook his head and got a piece of grape before tossing it into his mouth.

"Arthur, it’s only you that can stop the prophecy. I know you knew that our hands are tied at the moment; we can’t interfere right now. All we can do is prepare our armies for the worst," Sherise replied, biting her lips at the end of her sentence.

"Please take our side this time, Arthur; do not let history repeat itself once again," she added.

"And like what I’ve said before, I don’t care who rules this world, as long as they don’t stand in my way," Zeno answered.

"But Arthur, the world will be destroyed if those ancient demons return," Sherise insisted, but upon seeing that nothing changed from the man’s reaction, she opened her mouth again.

"Then, let me tell you one thing: your little princess is in dan—" She couldn’t finish the words she wanted to say as a jet-black scythe appeared at the side of her neck.

"I lost her once; twice is too much." Zeno’s voice and gaze were sharp enough to make the deity gulp in fear.

. . . . .