Episode 502
[I see.]
The awakened king nodded slowly and said.
[I understand what you mean. I can’t even imagine what kind of repercussions that answer will have as it is now.]
“Let’s not make such a drastic change of stance. The people we encounter in life aren’t necessarily enemies or allies.”
[Strange words. The moment you rejected my offer, there is no more conversation between us. You have now become the enemy of my wife, and of Setitus.]
“No. Just listen… … .”
I quickly waved my hands and caught the King’s attention.
Even so, I desperately racked my brain to squeeze out what I wanted to say.
“… Let’s say I’m walking through the mountains and I come across a pack of wolves. They’ve been starving for days, their eyes bloodshot and bloodshot, and they’re glaring at me. That’s when I make a suggestion. How many of you would be satisfied if you ate me? Just let me live. I’m a merchant. If you let me go, I’ll make sure you eat meat until you burst tomorrow. How do you think the wolves will react?”
[… … .]
Anyway, he wasn’t a suitable conversation partner. If it were Mr. Tangtata, he would have added some excitement.
I said with a sigh.
“They’ll pretend not to hear and pounce on you. They’ll bite, tear, taste, and enjoy the Luan Badnicker, and fill their stomachs with gusto. That’s what a beast is. But what if they’ve encountered a group of bandits?”
[… … .]
“Well, even if this negotiation doesn’t work out, I might as well spare your life just in case. It means that your life or death is a 50-50 chance. Your Highness the King of Awakening… … Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”
[Is this the difference between humans and beasts?]
“Wrong. I just wanted to say what a blessing it is to be able to communicate with each other.”
I continued speaking, waving my index finger outstretched as if I was fidgeting.
“First, let me correct one of your misconceptions. I also have obsessive-compulsive disorder, so I can’t just ignore things that are crooked.”
[Crooked?]
“You said it first. Would I prioritize my distant descendants, whose faces I don’t even know, over the ties I have with them? … Of course, that can’t be possible. But it’s not like you said that those descendants are completely unrelated to me.”
[If you have many children, that might be possible.]
“That’s not necessarily the case. Bloodlines aren’t really that important. There are a lot of people in this world who can’t be parents even though they share the same blood. Of course, there are plenty of people who are the opposite.”
[… … .]
“I can’t imagine myself getting together with someone, but maybe that’s not the case for those around me. For example, my brothers and sisters might get married, have children, and have families. This Luan Badniker might have a nephew too. I don’t know how I’ll treat my nephew. But I can’t treat him badly. He’s a precious person in my family. Whether I want it or not, my connections will expand like that.”
[Didn’t Yeo say? I can wait long enough until all the relationships you remember disappear. Even if they are not your own children, Yeo can wait until all the relatives you know disappear.]
“That’s not such an easy problem. Those nephews will grow up and have families someday, right? They’ll meet someone, have children, and in that way, my world will expand. Someone precious to me will have someone precious to me, and that person will have someone precious to me again… … If that kind of feeling continues.”
I took a deep breath and then said.
“… In the end, there will be no one in the future who is completely unrelated to me. What I mean is that I could not have listened to what you said from the beginning.”
The awakened king let out a low laugh.
[This is sophistry. I cannot understand your nonsense.]
“That’s a lie. If you didn’t understand, you wouldn’t have been able to laugh in the first place.”
[… … .]
“One thing is clear. You are definitely different from other demons. Perhaps it is because you were born differently. Perhaps, even among demons, you feel like a rather different being.”
[Is that all you want to say?]
“There’s still more. To be honest, I’ve never met a demon who can communicate this well. It’s not just words. You’ve read my mind and made me a tempting offer, but it’s not that easy. I’m guessing you were the one who taught the demon children of Setitus how to talk to humans?”
[… … .]
“Unlike the young beasts that cannot even endure one night of hunger, the possibilities that open up from the moment a conversation is possible are nearly infinite… … .”
How long has the King of Awakening been observing me?
How much do you know about Luan Badnicker and how much do you know about my inner thoughts?
I don’t know, but what was clear was that this demon knew me better than I initially expected.
I don’t know how much or to what extent I know these elements, such as Baek No-gwang, Yeong-san, Sa-hyeong-je, and Behemoth.
Anyway, I know that you have prepared a lot to persuade me here today.
And originally, the longer and more deeply you think about persuasion or negotiation, the better the results tend to be.
But that’s not in my nature.
This Luan Badniker is someone who procrastinates and drags out work until the deadline approaches and then rushes to get it done.
There are some people who, strangely enough, need the tip of the knife to almost touch their Adam’s apple for maximum concentration. I’m one of those people.
This tendency makes life somewhat tiring, but it is not easy to change one’s innate nature.
But that nature may not be a bad factor at this moment.
What does this mean?
Unlike the awakened king who had prepared a lot for today, I have no choice but to see this guy on the spot, judge him, and act on my own.
“Edoniz… was it? Our Highness’s name.”
[… … .]
“Did I simply reject your offer because I am the embodiment of rebellious spirit? That is not all. Or was it to prove my point that I just made? That is not conclusive either.”
[Your patience is slowly reaching its limit. Let’s get to the point. Human.]
“I told you earlier. The reason you want to kill a colorless weed is too personal… … In my opinion as a Demon Lord expert, that’s what sets you apart from other Demon Lords the most. In fact, when we first talked, I thought you had a more subtle sense of joy and sorrow than other Demon Lords. Right? It’s different from Harden Aihar, who would get angry at anything, or Tangtata-san, who would clap his hands just by playing with you.”
If I had to find a similar type, it would be the first time I encountered the Demon King of the Black Swamp, Nine, who had a similar vibe.
From the beginning, the Demon King seemed to be the most indifferent to human existence. It was like a swamp, a being that would sink deeply just by meeting it.
It felt like it was similar to the King of Awakening on the outside, but completely different in essence.
“It won’t be pleasant for you to see Behemoth destroy the world like this.”
[Even if the continent itself disappears, Yeo will not disappear. Unlike those false gods, Yeo’s existence will no longer require mortal faith and worship. If the world is destroyed, she will go to hell and find a new universe to rule.]
“Hell is connected to all worlds… … right? But it’s strange. If you’re such a free spirit who can just leave so coolly, why did you bother to tempt me?”
This is the most important part.
I smiled on the outside, but on the inside I was busy carefully recalling the conversation I had with the King of Awakening.
The existence of the awakened king that I have figured out. The attitude that this guy showed. The reason why he went to the trouble of establishing a nation called Setitus. The colorless believers.
What if spreading malice is not really the goal, but the process?
‘… … .’
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Then, a somewhat absurd conclusion was reached, but since the King of Awakening might sense something strange if we delayed here, we decided to do it anyway.
“… What if the joys and sorrows were not vague, but rather more distinct? What if you were actually assuming a sense of equanimity? So you are still bound by emotions that only a mere mortal would have, and with such residues remaining, you cannot become a complete god… … .”
[… … .]
Like a warrior risking his life fighting a formidable enemy, I was paying close attention to the awakened king’s every move.
The hidden power that had been dormant was now in a state of concentration that stirred, and although the King of Awakening’s expression, breathing, prayer, and gestures all seemed stable, he did not miss the slight trembling of his unusually long index finger.
The moment I saw that reaction, I truly laughed.
“Aha. I see you hit the nail on the head. If this guess is true, then I can understand your strange obsession with the continent, and the reason you were able to stay in this world and even establish a country, unlike other demons. Was it because you still had a human part left? If that’s true, then maybe staying on the continent wasn’t something you wanted, and you’re actually not qualified to go to hell yet-.”
[-stop.]
The King of Awakening interrupted me for the first time.
The long body shook once more, and the suffocating sound of the instrument exploded and pressed down on me, momentarily suffocating me.
The energy waves emitted not only had physical force, but they transformed into hundreds of hands that seemed to grab my body, and even I, who was quite familiar with musical instruments, felt nauseous.
[You talk too much.]
“… You were talking more earlier, weren’t you? They say the thing that chatterboxes hate the most is another chatterbox, and that’s exactly what it is.”
[Are you done with what you have to say, human?]
“No? Listen more. From now on, I’m going to make a counteroffer. I’m sure it won’t be bad for you either.”
[A suggestion? To you?]
“okay.”
I nodded once and then spoke in a seemingly sly tone.
“How about we just unite and kill Behemoth first?”
[What.]
“Let’s join forces to overcome the crisis that has come our way. A temporary cooperative relationship, a friendly relationship, there’s a saying that goes, “The enemy of my enemy is my comrade.” What do you think?”
[Is this really such a ridiculous statement?]
“I have never lied since I was born.”
[… … .]
The awakened king exhaled deeply through his nose.
Although his mouth is not open, he looks as if he is sighing.
Of course, I also realize that I am talking nonsense.
There probably aren’t many people who would understand my actions right now.
If even the Iron Blood Corps knew that I made such a suggestion, they might try to kill me.
‘What do you want me to do?’
I decided to treat the King of Awakening as someone I could have a conversation with.
This decision was not simply a matter of blind faith in my own vision.
Because the ambassador had a conversation with this guy… … .
I don’t know the exact details, but for now, just that fact alone has helped me to accept the existence of the King of Awakening.
[It’s not worth listening to. Even the colorless one couldn’t get Yeo’s cooperation. Are you, a mere mortal, talking about an alliance with Yeo? Know your subject.]
“I said let’s just hold hands for a moment, what are you talking about? Didn’t you need me anyway, the King of Awakening?”
I still don’t know why he needs me. If there’s one thing I haven’t figured out about the King of Awakening yet, it’s this.
It’s not something that matters right now.
[… … .]
The King of Awakening looked at me with his hazy eyes. The strange energy that had been entangling my body had disappeared.
As I shook my head a few times, trying not to show how nervous I was, the King of Awakening spoke again.
[This is a suggestion not worth listening to.]
“okay?”
[But if you can prove yourself worthy beyond what you are now, I might seriously consider it.]
“Oh. How do I prove it? By the way, let’s leave out the killing of the colorless believers.”
[Reunite with Yeo-wa once again.]
“huh?”
I tilted my head at the unexpected words.
At that moment, the King of Awakening’s body slowly rose into the air, and his relatively clear shape began to turn into fog again.
Just like when it first appeared.
[See the true nature of the Yeo-ui with your own eyes. With that alone, the Yeo-ui will acknowledge you.]
“Is that really okay?”
[Does it seem easy?]
“… … .”
When you say it so openly, I have a strong feeling that it won’t be easy.
[If you wish to reunite with Yeo, you must first survive. Considering the fate you are destined to walk, even that will not be easy. Also, since you rejected Yeo’s offer, I will do the bare minimum.]
“What does that mean?”
[As I said, I will order the people in Ulkaa to withdraw, but I will not force them even if they do not follow the king’s orders.]
“… … .”
The tone of speech was so shitty that I ended up understanding it a little late.
“… So even if the remaining guys don’t listen to you and stay here and cause trouble.”
[That means their freedom. Setitus is a free country. Even the king has no right to infringe on the sovereignty of the people.]
“A free country is a plague if it adopts a caste system.”
Although I was angry, the disappearing King of Awakening spoke with a grave expression.
[Survive… Luan Badniker. Prove that your claims are not false.]
“Wait a minute! I still have something to say!”
I quickly grabbed the awakened king who was almost on the verge of disappearing.
The King of Awakening’s indifferent gaze turned towards me.
“If I survive today, can I call you something other than ‘King of Awakening’ next time I see you? No. Please let me call you that.”
[What.]
“The Wretched King Edonis… … .”
[… … .]
I shouted at the devil king who went back on his words with such lethality.
“This worthless bastard… … . You’re doing something more cowardly than giving and taking. The Kingdom of Setitus will be a worthless kingdom from now on, and you’re the king of worthless things. Are you listening? A worthless king, you worthless brat!”
[… … .]
The king of fools didn’t answer and disappeared like a goblin before my eyes.
