This was the underground cellar beneath the inn where Alderp was staying.
The room was pitch black, with no light at all—only a single lamp was lit, providing a very limited view, allowing one to barely glimpse the situation inside.
In the center of this room, lying on the floor, was a young man.
The young man had a handsome face, completely devoid of expression, like a wooden doll—always stiff—as he lay on the ground.
Though his face showed no emotion, his eyes were filled with laziness and exhaustion, as if he didn't want to do anything at all, just lie here and sleep while yawning.
However, a fraction of a second later, the sound of hurried footsteps and angry shouts echoed through the room.
"Max! Max!"
Calling out that name, the cellar door was violently thrown open.
The person who barged in was none other than Alderp himself.
Alderp was panting heavily, his face pale as if still terrified from being tormented by Ethan earlier. With unexpected speed for his plump body, he stormed into the cellar.
"...What? Alderp? What do you want from me? Today, you look more delicious than usual," the young man said slowly, as if only just noticing Alderp's presence, which nearly made Alderp explode in rage.
"Useless low-tier demon! Why is it that every time I see you, you look so worthless!? Because of trash like you, I ended up humiliated like this!"
Without mercy, Alderp stomped on the young man he called a "low-tier demon."
"Ow! Ow! Stop stepping on me! I don't know anything! It hurts!" Max hugged his handsome head while letting out strange cries.
This only made Alderp even angrier, prompting him to scream: "You say you don't know anything!? Damn useless demon!? Why did your power fail in court today!?"
"That bastard Ethan almost killed me several times! Is your power really that worthless!? Are you that eager to see me dead!?"
"I don't know! That man's power is too strong, I couldn't twist his mind, and there was an incredibly powerful holy aura there—my power couldn't resist it and was instantly dispelled!"
Max innocently explained the reason behind the strange events in court earlier. It was his power, but it had no effect on Ethan, Eris, and the others—even his abilities were nullified by Eris' holy energy!
However, this answer did not satisfy Alderp in the slightest. In fact, it drove him to make a foolish decision that he would regret for the rest of his life.
"I'm done relying on trash like you! Worthless demon! I'm canceling my contract with you right now! Damn low-tier demon!"
"Hahaha! How foolish! I never expected to meet a human this stupid! Truly eye-opening!" A deep, mature voice echoed through the cellar, and suddenly, a masked young man appeared not far from Alderp.
This terrified Alderp, who shrieked: "Who are you!? Max! Quickly, use your powers to kill him!"
"Why should I kill a fellow demon? And… I think I've seen you somewhere before?" Max tilted his head in confusion, as if Alderp no longer mattered to him.
"I've lost count of how many times I've introduced myself to you—hundreds? Thousands? Pleased to meet you! Maxwell! Maxwell the Contradiction Eraser! Maxwell the Truth-Twister! I am the All-Seeing Demon, Vanir! Maxwell, I've come to take you back!"
The masked demon who called himself Vanir performed a noble's bow, then revealed the true name of the so-called "low-tier demon" Alderp had been calling "Max."
"Vanir! Vanir! I think I've heard that name before!" Maxwell still looked puzzled and hesitant.
"Hahaha! You always say the same thing every time we meet! You are my memory-lost brother, hailing from a hell different from this world! Come! Let us leave together!"
"Wait! Where do you think you're taking my servant!?" Alderp panicked!
"Servant!? How dare you treat an Archdemon as a servant!? Your stupidity astounds me! Lucky for you, you summoned Maxwell—an existence with tremendous power but the intellect of a child..."
"If it were me or any other Archdemon—or even a low-tier demon—a fool like you would've died long ago!"
Vanir flashed a terrifying grin, rendering Alderp speechless with fear!
"Since you've enslaved Maxwell all this time, you must pay the price! But with what little lifespan you have left, it might not be enough? Maxwell will drag you to hell and torment you properly!"
These horrifying words made Alderp finally snap, screaming: "No! No! I have vast wealth! I'll give it all to you! And—I'm sorry! I shouldn't have treated Max like this!"
"Your apology is worthless, and your wealth will soon be seized by the kingdom and redistributed to others. The only remaining value you have is the delicious negative emotions you radiate! And even if Maxwell and I forgive you, the rest of your life won't be peaceful! Hahaha!"
Sinister, spine-chilling laughter filled the cellar.
Meanwhile, Alderp's face turned deathly pale—he knew his fate would be horrific. Without Max's power, his past crimes would surely be exposed to the world. Even if Vanir and Maxwell spared him, the kingdom would never let him go.
And worse—Vanir and Maxwell had no intention of letting him escape in the first place!
But there was one more person who wanted to make him suffer for the rest of his life!
*BANG!*
The cellar door was brutally sliced in half!
Four figures stepped inside!
Three of them were beautiful girls—Eris, Yunyun, and Iris!
And standing at the forefront, with a cold, blade-like glare fixed directly on Alderp, was Ethan—gripping the Cursed Sword Gram!