The Returned Sword King Decided to Become a Tyrant Episode 12
To change the future (2)
“Magic? No way!”
It wasn’t long before I came to my senses.
We were standing in a place that looked like the central hall of a temple.
To be exact, my body suddenly moved without me even having time to notice the change.
‘Spatial movement magic.’
Indeed. Is this a level that is worthy of the name of the Warlocks’ Hideout?
I was a little surprised because it was a more complete magic than I had heard.
“Your Majesty, are you alright?”
“hmm.”
“Such a sudden move… … It might be more dangerous than I thought.”
“It’s just a simple movement spell.”
I walked briskly as if to prove that what he said was not a lie.
It was not that I was unaware of my worries, but I had already spread my wings wide.
There was absolutely no risk to safety, so there was no need to waste energy.
“Rather, it would be no good to move passively.”
“Well… … .”
By the way.
Even in the midst of all this, there was something that caught my eye.
I left the bewildered Baron behind and approached the statue in the center.
“… … .”
A crow so lifelike it’s hard to believe it’s a stone statue.
One, for some reason, the wings of the crow flying into the sky were covered with flames.
Pain and anger, regret and defeat, seen in those jewel-like eyes.
Although it may have faded because it was made so long ago, the intention of the work could not be damaged.
“It seems to be a representation of the warlock subjugation crusade.”
“I see.”
“Huh? Why are you doing that?”
“It’s nothing.”
The existence of black magic is an ‘unclean’ thing that should not exist on the continent.
That is an unchanging truth contrary to common sense, and their downfall was like a piece of history.
A history of victory that everyone must have learned and grown up with, and that will surely be passed down in the future.
‘The temple… … .’
50 years ago. The operation to exterminate the black magicians of the temples led by the Holy Empire.
Anything involving black magic, regardless of necessity, was burned to ashes.
The warlocks were slaughtered without exception, and even those who managed to escape were never able to enjoy the luxury of seeing the light of day again.
A complete destruction that left no trace whatsoever, unless the remnants’ hiding places were occasionally discovered.
In that sense, this statue was a very precious object.
The cries of crows who were forced to become corrupt because they were oppressed even from flying in the sky.
And the flame of greed that destroys false malice.
The word ‘truth’ written underneath… … .
“Huh? There’s something like a box here!”
As I was lost in thought, the Baron’s agitated voice was heard from the other side of the statue.
I had no choice but to snap out of my thoughts and take a step forward.
“Here it is.”
Baron Vidor handed me a small box.
A beautiful black box made of an unknown metal.
The Baron’s expression brightened even more.
“I wonder if it contains any kind of expensive artifact?”
“We’ll have to open it to find out.”
Since this was also something that was in the report before the regression, I had already guessed what the box was.
But I didn’t want to kill his anticipation, so I didn’t pretend to know.
“Ah! It might be dangerous, so let me open it.”
“as you please.”
I took a step back and gestured for him to open it.
After receiving permission, the Baron carefully opens the box.
The anticipation on his face grew even stronger.
but…….
“huh?”
For some reason the box lid didn’t budge.
It was the same even if I used enough force to frown.
“Seo, is it broken?”
The Baron, who had been wrestling with the box for a long time, began to look at me with a puzzled expression.
It was a natural thing to say. It wasn’t his fault, he just opened it wrong.
I added my explanation before the Baron looked even more pitiful.
“It’s a magic device. Trying to open it with force won’t work.”
“Indeed! You can even see through such things!”
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In the first place, there is no way that an ordinary box would come out of a warlock’s hideout… … .
I thought so and slowly relaxed my shoulders.
Then, the Baron looked at me with questioning eyes.
“……majesty?”
“Just stay in that position.”
There are several ways to open a magically processed box.
Decipher the magic contained in the box and open it in the normal way.
Forcibly releasing the box with stronger magic power.
finally.
“To destroy something by hitting it with force.”
Kwajik!
“Eww!”
Suddenly, the drawn sword cut through the box, and a strong sword wind swept through the surrounding area.
The Baron fell down screaming as if he was about to die, but there was not a single scratch on his body.
Because it was a sword attack with an accurately calculated orbit.
“Hey, are you okay?”
“Stop making a fuss and get up.”
What a fuss about a topic that caused the problem… … .
The Baron stood up with a look of resentment in his eyes.
However, it was quite an interesting reaction to check my body to see if I was injured.
“Your body is fine, so check the contents.”
“Yes? Oh, I understand.”
The Baron began to look around, looking for the box that had flown away somewhere.
Soon, he noticed the remains of a box shattered behind him and looked dumbfounded.
… … No. Could that thing, bleeding, be the remains of a box?
“That’s… … .”
“It’s a mimic.”
An artificial monster that preys on adventurers, disguised as a treasure chest, a symbol of desire.
It is a masterpiece that even the warlocks have magically wrapped to make it look like a real treasure chest.
Perhaps it was a trap to kill any priests who discovered the hideout.
The Baron’s expression fell.
“This can’t be… … I was going to give this to Your Majesty… … .”
“Fate doesn’t always go the way you want it to.”
What I thought was a treasure was actually a monster that was after my life.
It must have been an incredibly disappointing situation for the Baron, who must have experienced something like this for the first time.
I smiled and walked away regardless.
“Enter inside.”
“……All right.”
I thought I needed some comforting, but at least not right now.
Because regaining the power of the past became a priority.
Squeak- squeak!
A small room connected to the large central hall.
The interior that I saw when I opened the rusty iron door that made an eerie sound was not much different.
“……storage?”
“Or maybe it was used for something similar.”
The interior of a room filled with empty boxes and cabinets.
The furniture, arranged in a certain standard, gave an idea of the room’s purpose.
The Baron, who had been looking through the cabinets here and there, licked his lips with regret.
“But you really didn’t leave behind a single miscellaneous artifact.”
“It seems that they have taken into account the possibility of being tracked down due to the items they left behind.”
“Oh, I see.”
The Baron whetted his appetite.
“I should say it’s thorough… … I had high expectations because it was a hideout, but it’s a little disappointing.”
“I guess that’s not necessarily the case.”
“yes?”
I ignored the Baron’s words and continued walking.
Of course, whatever the Baron’s thoughts, he was not interested in miscellaneous items.
Because the only thing that mattered was this guy who had been grabbing my attention from the central hall.
“Found it.”
A small box, just like any other box, left unattended.
And inside it was the head of a corroded skeleton.
The Baron asked with a bewildered look on his face.
“Ugh… … Isn’t this just an ordinary black magic item?”
On the surface and in reality, they are nothing more than the odds and ends commonly found in hideouts.
A representative medium of black magic.
So I understand the absurd reaction.
But it was never the form that mattered.
Above all, this guy was so great that he could even raise a corpse just by existing.
“Baron Vidor. This is an order.”
“Yes? Please give your order, Your Majesty.”
“The purification ritual will now begin. You go outside and wait.”
purification?
The Baron asked with a dumbfounded expression at the word that did not fit the situation.
“Purification? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“The concentration of black magic is more serious than expected. If we leave it like this, it’s clear that something big will happen.”
“Huh! Is that so?”
Baron Vidor looked around in surprise at those words.
I nodded and continued.
“Even though you came here to investigate, if you ignore such terrible magic right before your eyes, can you really be considered an example to the citizens?”
“Well, then… … .”
In fact, the word purification was added because it was a convenient excuse… … .
“It can’t be dangerous, right?”
I didn’t want to waste time like this, so I nodded and gave a short dismissal.
“You don’t have to worry.”
“… … I will obey your command.”
It may be absurd, but who would refuse an order for safety?
But unfortunately, my order was not yet completed.
“Also, if I don’t come out within 30 minutes, you must return to the palace.”
“Yes? Are you telling me to return to the palace first?”
“Yes. Of course, I will never allow you to enter this room.”
“Okay.”
“If you understand, then let’s go.”
So the Baron walked out of the warehouse with a face full of worry and doubt.
It was only after this that I began to examine the skeleton in detail.
‘The criminal doesn’t feel this energy, is that it?’
It’s a truly terrifying and creepy magic that seems to weigh down the inside of the hideout.
Just as the mana of the Archmage cannot be sensed by others, the same could be said of the negative dimension mana hidden in this skull.
‘That’s interesting.’
It was no ordinary thing.
Isn’t it such a trivial thing that it could exist anywhere in the first place?
It would not have been common for such a skeleton to evolve into some kind of artifact that could even raise a dead corpse.
That was what made this place special.
A hideout built beneath a cemetery rich in negative dimension mana.
They must have felt the need to pool their strength, even at the risk of being discovered.
So then, just how much magical power did he gather so tenaciously?
‘It was such an amount that I couldn’t just take it away, so I threw it away and ran away.’
It is an item that contains the souls of dead black magicians, while also accumulating magical power of a different level.
Even after being abandoned there, it would have been exposed to the emotional residue derived from being in a cemetery for a long time.
This was a kind of ego, and it was enough to grow into an artifact over several decades, which was the conclusion of the investigators before the return.
‘And negative emotions are the engine of growth.’
With the knowledge of the future, we could obtain safer and more reliable artifacts.
Still, that was the reason why they chose the lair of the black magicians.
“Absorb.”
Before the return, it was an item that was recovered by the Holy Empire under the pretext of purification.
So I didn’t know what I would gain from absorbing it, nor the risks that came from it.
Maybe I’ll lose my sanity and be consumed by the grudge of the warlocks.
But my gut was screaming.
That an opportunity like this will never come again.
“And I will never fail.”
I will definitely do it.
It could be said that it was all my confidence that led me to be called the Sword King.
I savored the negative emotions I felt from my skull and slowly began to turn the energy inside my body.
“… … !”
At that moment, all the negative emotions in a human being surged up like a whirlwind and engulfed his entire body.
Anger and regret, and even a desire to live.
The vision of the warlocks seeing their comrades being killed came to mind, and after a while, the life of a loser starving to death consumed my consciousness.
Soon, a pain that felt like it was crushing my entire body came over me, and before I knew it, my body was writhing on the floor.
“Ugh!”
It is human nature to be unable to accept even one’s own death.
What about the miserable feelings left behind by tens or hundreds of people?
And what if it really felt like it was my job?
I can’t believe the pain I felt in such a short period of time.
No, can it really be said that experiencing someone else’s life is a short time?
It felt like I had already lost my self.
A bloody fight for control.
The negative things that covet the body corrode the mind in order to find even the slightest gap.
Whether it was because of the pain or the emotions, no thoughts came to mind.
Why am I in this place, why do I yearn for power?
Now that I can’t even feel the passage of time, I can no longer endure with just the word “mental strength.”
And yet… … .
“… … Don’t make me laugh.”
A pungent blood oozed out from Akdamun’s mouth.
Why did I seek out the god I didn’t believe in even while I was dying?
Why did he hire George, despite his own shortcomings?
I never support it.
I will never fall until I kill all the enemies who have caused me and my people to suffer.
Kookookookookung!
The atmosphere vibrates as the negative energies that were running wild gather together.
It was the complete opposite of the initial, high-spirited attitude that had been eating away at my mind. It was almost like a tantrum.
As evidence of this, I stopped messing with other people’s memories and started digging into my own weaknesses.
“ha ha ha!”
The scenes that flash by like a revolving lantern make me laugh.
Memories of those days when I moved helplessly without any goals.
Every day, I fought a lonely battle in a kingdom full of thieves.
and…….
-Peacock. I’m so scared.
The me of the past who only spoke weakly in front of my enemies.
-I want to forget everything and run far away.
The me of the past who tried to run away, forgetting even my own mistakes.
Even though I pretended to forget, I never tried to forget for even a moment.
How could I forget?
No matter how much I deny it, everything is an element that makes up ‘me’.
It was all because of my stupidity that this happened.
The moment I thought that.
“I will accept the throne well. I will not bid farewell to the little prince.”
I was in a nightmare.
“… … Asus.”
I came face to face with Asus, who was stabbing my heart.
