The raid ended.
The dungeon closed.
And the name Lucifer began to spread—faster than before.
Platinum rank.
Raid survivor.
Orc slayer.
Village savior.
A hero.
He almost laughed at that.
The Summons
A message arrived the next day.
"Report to the Guildmaster."
Lucifer leaned back in his chair inside the guild hall.
"...Took them long enough."
Inside a private chamber—
The Guildmaster waited.
Old.
Sharp-eyed.
Careful.
Tea was served.
Silence settled.
"I see," the Guildmaster began, studying him closely,
"you've achieved what most cannot... in just three years."
Lucifer smiled faintly.
"Aren't you curious about me?"
The Guildmaster paused.
"I didn't mean to pry."
Lucifer waved it off.
"It's fine. You've seen countless adventurers."
A sip of tea.
"I'm just another one."
A lie.
And they both knew it.
"I was born into a noble family," Lucifer continued calmly.
"Disowned."
"Not talented enough."
The Guildmaster frowned slightly.
"...Their loss."
Lucifer set his cup down.
"Let's stop pretending."
The air shifted.
"If you wanted information about me, you wouldn't ask directly."
His gaze sharpened.
"And if you cared about my feelings... you wouldn't bring up my past."
Silence.
Then—
The Guildmaster laughed.
"Sharp."
"Fine. I'll be honest."
The Proposal
"Bandits."
Lucifer didn't react.
"Merchant routes are being wiped out," the Guildmaster continued.
"Entire caravans—gone."
"We sent teams."
"They didn't return."
Lucifer leaned forward slightly.
"So... you need someone who wins."
"Exactly."
"And the reward?"
The Guildmaster hesitated.
Then said it.
"The Guild."
Lucifer's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You want me... as Guildmaster."
"Yes."
"And why would I want that?"
"Power."
"Resources."
"Information."
A pause.
"And control."
Lucifer smirked.
"...No one listens to you, do they?"
The Guildmaster sighed.
"...Not anymore."
"But they'll listen to me."
Lucifer leaned back.
Thinking.
Information.
Influence.
Reach.
Useful.
"Fine," he said.
"But you stay."
"...What?"
"You'll be Vice Guildmaster."
The old man blinked.
"I was planning to retire."
Lucifer smiled.
"You know the system better than anyone."
"And once they know you answer to me..."
"...they'll listen."
Silence.
Then a slow sigh.
"...You really are something else."
Lucifer smirked.
"I know."
The Hunt Begins
That very night—
A caravan moved through the forest.
Heavy cargo.
Soft targets.
Perfect bait.
Bandits attacked.
Screams echoed.
Steel flashed—
And then—
Silence.
Lucifer stepped out from one of the wagons, stretching.
"...Midnight."
"Can't you idiots pick a better time?"
The bandits charged.
They never reached him.
Heads rolled.
Bodies fell.
"...Weak."
Panic spread.
"Diamond rank!"
"Run!"
Lucifer tilted his head.
"...Did I say you could leave?"
He moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
One by one—
They died.
Some dropped their weapons.
Begging.
Crying.
Lucifer crouched in front of them.
Smiling.
"Where's your base?"
A bandit pointed desperately.
His head hit the ground the next second.
"...Do I look stupid?"
Fear deepened.
Lucifer stood.
"Let's make this fun."
He gestured lazily.
"Kill each other."
Silence.
"...And I'll let the last one live."
They hesitated.
Lucifer raised his sword.
"I can also kill all of you."
That was enough.
They turned on each other.
Screaming.
Bleeding.
Desperate.
Lucifer watched.
Laughing softly.
"...Now this is entertainment."
Minutes later—
One remained.
Broken.
Shaking.
He gave the real location.
Lucifer smiled.
"You can go."
Relief.
Then—
A flash.
The man's arm fell.
"...Why...?"
Lucifer leaned close.
"Because I'm the devil."
A final strike.
Silence.
The Bandit Base
Deep in the forest—
Lucifer arrived.
Something felt off.
"...No monsters."
He scanned the area.
Then saw it—
Heads.
Lycanthrope heads.
Placed around the base.
Lucifer grinned.
"...Smart."
"Scare weaker beasts away."
A pause.
"...But what if they disappear?"
Chaos Unleashed
Night deepened.
The heads vanished.
And then—
The forest answered.
Wolves.
Dozens.
They stormed the base.
Screams erupted.
Bandits fought.
Died.
Were torn apart.
And above it all—
Lucifer watched.
"...Beautiful."
The Leader Falls
The Bandit Leader emerged.
Strong.
Experienced.
But tired.
Wounded.
Lucifer stepped forward.
"So... you're the boss."
"You did this?" the man growled.
Lucifer smiled.
"...Yeah."
"Why?"
A pause.
Then—
A grin.
"...Because it's fun."
The leader roared.
Attacked.
Too reckless.
Too angry.
Exactly what Lucifer wanted.
One mistake—
And it was over.
Blade through the heart.
"...Predictable."
A New Opportunity
After the battle—
Captives emerged.
Thin.
Silent.
Watching him carefully.
"...Interesting," Lucifer muttered.
"You didn't run."
No answer.
He raised his sword.
"Talk. Or die."
"Wait!"
A girl stepped forward.
Raven.
"I'm Raven."
"Why do they listen to you?" Lucifer asked.
"They don't," she said.
A lie.
Lucifer smiled.
"...Try again."
She hesitated.
Then—
"We're from House Ashcroft."
"Fallen nobles."
"Scholars."
"Strategists."
"...Information brokers."
Lucifer's eyes sharpened.
Now that—
Was valuable.
"You want revenge," he said.
"Yes."
"You want power."
"...Yes."
Lucifer turned away.
"...Not my problem."
Raven stepped forward quickly.
"We can help you."
He stopped.
"With what?"
"Information."
A pause.
"...Everything."
Lucifer thought.
Guild.
Power.
Influence.
Information...
That was the real weapon.
He smiled.
"Fine."
He tossed a pouch of gold.
"Rebuild."
"Prove your worth."
Then his voice dropped—
Cold.
"And if you betray me..."
He gestured at the corpses.
"I'll make it worse."
Raven nodded.
"...We understand."
As Lucifer walked away—
A new piece fell into place.
Not just strength.
Not just chaos.
But control.
The devil—
Was building something far greater.
To be continued...