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Chapter 22: The Strongest in the Demon Realm (3)
Demon King Velcarion.
Those who witnessed him in the war against the Demon Legion all agreed when they spoke:
‘It feels like all the evil in the world has gathered in one place.’
A being that completely denies the inner workings of emotion, which the Creator God gave to all living things while creating the world.
A presence so beyond any negative description, instilling an incomprehensible sense of rejection.
Even I, who had made a contract with God, felt fear for the first ti in encountering him.
A being that perhaps even God feared.
The pounding of my heart, wildly fluctuating, mirrored the instability of my current state of mind.
“Are you really a human? Why the silence?”
Velcarion urged for a response, t with my unresponsive deanor.
“Are you mute? Or can’t you understand ?”
Not only did I understand every word, but even the slightest nuance.
Without hesitation, Velcarion leapt from the cliffside, landing lightly on the ground where I stood.
“Judging solely by appearances, you might pass for a ten-year-old, yet you’re quite audacious, aren’t you? Not only did you slay the Hellhound in one go, but you even dared to drink its blood?”
With each step closer, mories of the past flood my mind.
The thrill of facing the strongest.
The chilling sensation and the surging vitality that pierces to the bone.
An overwhelming sense of pouring everything out, to the point of not even considering the consequences, was corroding my inner being.
I silently extended my hands forward.
“…?”
Crossed wrists and the tip of the sword pointing forward, two eyes fixed in the grooves of that curved space.
With every possible scenario in mind, I entered the optimal defensive stance.
Observing this, Velcarion burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! This one’s quite adorable, huh? Hey, relax! Who said anything about killing…!”
Velcarion’s jovial face stiffened in an instant.
The distance between and the Demon King is rely a dozen steps.
If one were to fall, they’d be within striking distance of each other’s noses, but nothing more is permitted.
Even though it might not be visible to the naked eye, a crimson circular boundary has already ford around .
The mont he takes even a single step forward, he will enter the domain of the killing sword I’ve designed.
A smile returned to Velcarion’s frozen face.
“They claid your race had infinite potential, but it seems they weren’t wrong, huh?”
As if responding to my resolve, an unimaginable amount of energy surged from the Demon King’s body.
“Do you want to fight , kid?”
In his outstretched right hand, a force other than mana was gathering.
The power of demons, which humans could never wield.
Both sides were prepared, and all that remained was whose foot would land first.
[I’ll ask anyway, who’s that guy?]
Kaeram, who had been silently observing, finally spoke up.
“The Demon King.”
Contrary to expectations, she showed no surprise.
It seed she had already anticipated his identity to so extent since their first encounter.
[So, he’s the one I sacrificed my soul to destroy in my past life?]
“Well, fundantally speaking, yes…”
Strictly speaking, it wasn’t the Demon King that Keram had destroyed, but the weapon he possessed, the Death Sword.
However, there was no Death Sword in the Demon King’s hand now.
Not just his hand, but upon examining various parts of his body, there was no trace of anything resembling a sword.
Since it wasn’t a small sword like Keram’s that could be concealed in his arms, it would have been obvious if he had it.
But now it’s gone?
[So, do you have confidence in winning with such a ssed-up body?]
In truth, even without it, the chances of winning weren’t high.
Honestly, my body wasn’t in a normal state right now. After being involved in several events overnight, my strength was almost depleted, leaving almost drained.
Unbeknownst to , even the hand holding Keram was trembling slightly.
This is too much of a long shot to gamble on…
Can I really win against that Demon King in my current state?
– Thud!
“…?”
Suddenly, the power gathering in the Demon King’s hand dissipated in an instant.
As I raised my head in confusion, he waved his hand toward .
“Alright, alright. What am I doing fighting a kid like you… I’m not going to ss around, so relax, kid.”
The intense energy that had filled the air vanished in an instant.
It was a dubious situation, but I couldn’t let my guard down.
As I raised my sword higher, readying myself, the Demon King suddenly flopped down on the ground.
“Seriously, I’m not doing anything! Even though I may be a scoundrel, I don’t ss with kids! If it’s really bothering you, should we just lay down and talk? Like this? Would that make you feel better?”
He looked anything but a Demon King, more pitiful than anything.
Whether it was his desperation or not, I found myself lowering my sword and easing my guard.
“This kid has a lot of suspicion, and just looking at you, you won’t get stabbed in the back later.”
“…!”
His ntion of ‘backstabbing’ made flinch for a mont.
But I didn’t show it, continuing to gaze at him with restrained eyes.
“Okay, let’s go back to the question earlier. Kid, are you human?”
I silently nodded.
“How did you end up here?”
“…Swept away by the currents.”
“Swept away? So it wasn’t intentional?”
After hesitating for a mont, I nodded once again.
Although he had asked and I had answered, he genuinely seed to be asking without any ill intent.
“Okay, fine, let’s say you ended up here, but you’re quite an odd one, aren’t you? You look like a regular kid, but you’re emitting an unusual aura, and what’s your identity?”
“Just a normal human…”
It seed like the only fitting explanation.
“Heh! Don’t tell to believe that, huh? Why would a regular human be drinking Hellhound blood? It’s not like it’s your usual snack. Or were you just too hungry to notice?”
“It’s none of your business what others eat, right?”
Even with a provocative response, the Demon King maintained his unchanging smile.
“You’re quite defiant for a kid. It’s not that I care what you eat, but it’s just a suggestion to eat in moderation. From what I can tell, you haven’t just had it once or twice, and if you keep it up, you might attract so nasty beasts with your scent, you know?”
It wasn’t particularly surprising since I already knew the fact.
Despite my rather nonchalant expression, Velcarion frowned for a mont before chuckling.
“Hey kid. I’m not bragging, but even if I look like this, I’m quite an authoritative figure among the demons on this land you’re stepping on. To be honest, there’s hardly anyone in this demon realm who doesn’t know …”
Well, it makes sense. It wouldn’t make sense to live in the demon realm and not know the Demon King.
“But you, kid, are not a demon but a human, and you’re here in the demon realm for the first ti, right?”
Once again, I nodded.
“Well, it’s definitely our first eting, so why does your face look so familiar? Earlier, the way you were on guard and all, it’s like you know who I am…”
He really wasn’t one to overlook details.
To calm my nerves, I swallowed hard, feeling the dryness in my mouth, and a trickle of cold sweat dripped down my neck.
“Where have you seen before….”
“But it’s our first ti eting, right?”
Of course, it was limited to this lifeti.
Although he could have been suspicious of the quick response, he seed to accept it.
“Well, considering it’s my first encounter with a human, where would you have seen ? Or do humans naturally have such an indifferent personality?”
Honestly, it’s quite fascinating to be having such a casual conversation with the Demon King.
Normally, if he wanted to ask sothing, he wouldn’t engage in conversation.
Instead, he would block my escape routes by tornting and torturing to get what he wants, then casually discard once he’s done…
This demon, is he really the Demon King I knew?
“…Why are you here?”
For the first ti since starting this conversation, I threw out a question.
“? Well, I was originally just patrolling around here with so nagging demon. While we were at it, I sensed a strange energy coming from this valley, so I decided to check it out. Never in a million years did I expect to find a human here.”
“Patrolling?”
“Yeah, patrolling! It’s basic for a Demon King like to patrol the lands I rule. Actually, I usually skip it out of laziness, but this ti, I had no choice because of that nagging demon…”
As he continued his story, his expression suddenly twisted.
It was as if he realized he had said sothing he shouldn’t have.
“K-Kid. What, what did I just say?”
“It’s basic for a Demon King like to patrol the lands I rule, right?”
“Uh, yeah, that’s right…”
Velcarion scratched his head, looking sowhat embarrassed.
“Aren’t you surprised?”
“About what?”
“I just said I’m a Demon King, and you’re not surprised at all?”
“….”
“Did you really see sowhere before? Otherwise, even the most clueless kid wouldn’t react so calmly to hearing the term ‘Demon King.’ Did you grow up never listening to your mom? Did she tell you the Demon King would get you if you didn’t listen?”
I don’t understand what’s going on here.
Certainly, the Demon King I’m seeing now isn’t the ruthless Demon King I knew.
Could it be that even the Demon King wasn’t inherently evil from the start?
If I don’t drastically change the course of history, the invasion of the Demon Army is inevitable in the near future.
If this calm and straightforward deanor is the Demon King’s true nature, then what could have transford him?
Ultimately, am I destined to fight against this changed Demon King once again?
“The more I see, the stranger you seem, huh? Anyway, you need to return to where you ca from, right? Is it just following this river back?”
“That’s the plan.”
“Yeah, staying in the wrong place for too long only brings discomfort. It was nice eting you, kid, even if it was brief. I don’t think you need to worry about the Hellhounds anymore, but still, take care.”
I received a kind farewell, advising to be careful.
Is this really the end?
Unlike a mont ago when I wondered if I could make it back alive, now it feels like it’s all ending too abruptly.
With a lingering sense of caution, I turned away, but my steps didn’t seem to co easily.
It felt like there was sothing very important I needed to ask.
“You…”
“Hmm?”
“If you really are the Demon King…”
Swallowing hard, with my heart pounding loudly in my chest, I turned to face him once again, and finally, the words crawled out of my mouth.
“What do you want as the Demon King?”
It was a question filled with so much aning.
Furthermore, it could be the fuse for how I would be intertwined with this existence of the Demon King in the future.
Velcarion looked at with disbelief in his eyes.
“This kid, turns out he’s not just bold, but rather audacious, huh?”
After maintaining a stationary posture for a while, he finally lifted his foot and approached .
The ten feet distance quickly closed to just the width of a finger.
“What do you want as the Demon King?”
His towering physique, twice my height, looked down at with an intense gaze.
“Do you think there’s anything special? Just as long as the people under live well and prosper. That’s the role of a king… But!”
The eyes of the spirited Demon King flashed for a mont, and the suppressed energies within him burst out.
A chilling grin ford on his lips, as sinister as a rising conqueror’s.
“If there are those who dare to hinder ! If there are those who go beyond hindrance and cause harm! I will not hesitate to annihilate all who trespass my land and bring harm to my kin! It is my duty as the ruler of this land and as the Demon King!”
It was a very brief mont, but I could clearly feel it.
The cruel aspect of Demon King Velcarion that I knew…
Though he was currently restrained by unknown shackles, those shackles could be released at any mont, reminding once again that the day of chaos for the world would co.
I’m not sure if I can stop that predetermined future.
But there was one thought in my mind as clear as day.
“Demon King, would you be willing to make a deal with ?”
“A deal?”
Velcarion scratched his head at the sudden proposition.
“In the future, who knows what may happen to you, but it could bring about a trendous change that could overturn your current mindset as the Demon King. It could be as if turning the world upside down…”
“Why suddenly talk about such nonsense? Why would I, who have a perfectly fine world, need…”
“I don’t know what will happen. But one thing I can tell you for sure is that you will change completely because of it. And because of your transformation, it will likely have a significant impact on our human world…”
As if realizing that my words weren’t just empty talk, he responded with a serious gaze.
“Are you suggesting that I invade your land?”
“That’s why I propose a deal. No matter what happens, please refrain from crossing into our territory.”
The Demon King chuckled.
“Hah! Are you so kind of prophet, kid? It’s funny enough that you’re suggesting we make a deal out of the blue, but now you’re asking not to cross into your land? Fine, if I don’t cross over, what will you do for ?”
“I’ll help you.”
Seemingly not understanding the offer to help, he looked puzzled.
“What do you an, help?”
“Anything. I’ll help you overco any threats or difficulties you face. It will definitely be of great assistance to you.”
The Demon King remained silent, gazing intently into my eyes for a mont.
I waited silently for him to speak.
“Kid, what’s your na?”
“Cyan Vert.”
“Cyan Vert… Very well, as the ruler of the Demon Realm, I promise. No matter what happens, I won’t invade your land.”
The Demon King readily agreed to my deal.
“However, your promise to help with anything carries responsibility. I dislike people, whether young or old, who don’t keep their promises.”
I nodded silently.
While I wasn’t sure if this deal would extend to the near future, if we ever et again, at the very least, there shouldn’t be a clash of swords between us.
The best scenario would be if we never t again…
I embarked once again on the journey back to the frontline.
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