Episode 22. The strongest man in the demon world (3)
Demon King Belkarion.
Those who witnessed him during the war against the Demon Army all said in unison:
‘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 state that cannot be fully expressed in any negative words, a feeling of rejection that does not understand existence itself.
I, who had made a contract with God, was also the first person to feel the emotion of fear again.
A man that perhaps even God feared.
The sound of my heart beating violently represented my currently unstable mind.
“Are you sure you’re human? “Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Seeing that I didn’t respond even when he called, Belkarion urged me to answer.
“Are you dumb? Or did you not understand me?”
Rather than not understanding it, I understood everything, even the toshi.
Finally, Belkarion jumped off the cliff and landed lightly on the ground where I was standing.
“He’s a young guy who looks like he’s lived for 10 years just by looking at him. He’s quite bold, isn’t he? “It’s not enough to kill a hellhound in one go, and you can even drink it while holding it?”
Every time I take a step closer, I am reminded of memories from the past.
The thrill you feel when facing the strongest.
The chill that reaches down to the bones and the blood surging.
The absolute feeling that I had to pour everything in to the point where I didn’t have to think about what came next was eating away at me.
I stretched out my hands forward without saying a word.
“… … ?”
Crossed wrists, the tip of a sword pointing forward, and two eyes standing in that curved space.
I entered into the optimal defensive posture, keeping in mind all possible situations.
Belkarion, who watched this, laughed out loud.
“Fuhaha! He’s really cute, isn’t he? Hey, relax! Someone killed it… … !”
Belkarion’s sly face hardened in an instant.
The distance between me and the Demon King is only about ten steps.
If you fall, it may be within nose reach, but no more than that is allowed.
Even though it is not immediately visible, a red circular border has already formed around me.
The moment he takes exactly one step, he will enter the area of the killing sword that I have designed.
A smile appeared on Belkarion’s frozen face again.
“They said it’s a race with infinite development potential. I don’t think that’s wrong, right?”
As if repaying my life, an indescribable amount of life bloomed from the Demon King’s body.
“Do you want to fight me, kid?”
An energy other than mana was condensing in his outstretched right hand.
The power of a demon that a human can never wield.
Everyone’s preparations were complete, and all that was left was to see whose feet would land first.
[I would like to ask first, but who is he?]
Kayram, who had been watching silently, finally opened his mouth and asked.
“Devil.”
Contrary to expectations, she did not look surprised.
It seemed like I already had some idea of his identity from the first time we met.
[So this is the guy I sacrificed my soul to destroy in my past life?]
“Well, if you look at it fundamentally, it’s like that… … .”
To be precise, what Kayram destroyed was not the Demon King, but the weapon the Demon King possessed, the Four Swords.
However, there was no evil sword in the Demon King’s hand right now.
Even when I looked at not just my hands but all over my body, there was nothing that looked like a sword anywhere.
It wasn’t a small sword that could be hidden in one’s pocket like Kayram, so it would definitely have been noticeable if he had it.
Is this because it doesn’t exist right now?
[So, are you confident that you will win a fight with such a messed up body?]
In fact, just because it wasn’t there wasn’t a high chance of winning.
As she said, honestly, my body was not in a normal state right now,
As I was caught up in various tasks during the night and continued to expend energy, the remaining energy in my body was almost at its lowest point.
Unknowingly, even a slight tremor was occurring in the hand holding the key.
The odds are too low to gamble… … .
Will I, now, be able to fight and win against that devil lord?
-Park!
“… … ?”
Meanwhile, the forces that had suddenly gathered in the hands of the Demon King disappeared in an instant.
When I raised my head in confusion, he was waving his hands at me.
“That’s enough. What are you doing fighting with a kid the size of a chestnut? … . “I’m not going to harm you, so let your guard down, kid.”
The life that had filled my eyes had disappeared before I knew it.
It was a very difficult situation, but I couldn’t let down my guard.
He raised his sword further and became more alert, and upon seeing this, the Demon King ended up lying down on the floor.
“Oh, I’m not really doing anything! No matter how crazy I am, I won’t touch children! If it doesn’t work out, shall we lie down and talk? like this? Does this make you feel safe?”
He looked so miserable that he could hardly be considered a demon lord.
Perhaps out of sadness, I lowered my sword and let down my guard without realizing it.
“That young guy has a lot of suspicion, and just looking at him, he won’t get stabbed in the back later.”
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“… … !”
I momentarily flinched when I heard the word “back of the head.”
However, she did not show it and continued to stare at him with a restrained gaze.
“Then let’s move on to the question I asked earlier. Little one, you’re human, right?”
I nodded silently.
“How did you come here?”
“… … “I was swept away by the current.”
“You came here because you were swept away? So you’re saying you didn’t come of your own accord?”
After hesitating for a moment, he nodded once again.
Although he asked and answered the question, he seemed to be asking innocently and without any malice.
“Okay, whatever it is, you’re such a strange person anyway? He looks pale and has a lot of life in him that is not typical of a young guy. What is it?”
“Ordinary human… … .”
I said this because there seemed to be no suitable explanation.
“Kick! I’m not telling you to believe it, are you? Why was a normal human drinking hellhound blood? That’s not even your stock. Or were you so hungry that you couldn’t see anything?”
“What other people eat is none of your business, right?”
Despite the harsh answers that could provoke the mood, the Demon King maintained his unchanging smile.
“That kid is so grumpy. As you said, it doesn’t matter what you eat, but I meant to eat it in moderation. Just looking at it, it doesn’t seem like I’ve eaten it once or twice, but if I do that, a bunch of scary demons could smell you and attract a bunch of scary demons. You?”
I wasn’t really surprised because I already knew this.
Belcarion made a stern expression on my face, which was calmer than expected, but then tilted his head.
“Hey kid. I’m not bragging, but I’m a pretty prestigious demon in this land you’re living in, right? I’m not going to lie, there is no one among the demons living in this demon world who doesn’t know me… … .”
That’s right, because it wouldn’t make sense to live in the demon world and not know the demon lord.
“But little one, you are a human, not a demon, and this is your first time here in the demon world. yes?”
I nodded again.
“Then it must be your first time seeing me, so why does your face look so strange right now? Not only was he wary earlier, it was as if he knew who I was… … .”
It’s not normal either.
First, to calm my mind, I swallowed the dry saliva that had accumulated in my mouth.
At the same time, a ray of cold sweat flows down from my head and down my neck.
“Have you seen me before… … .”
“No, it’s your first meeting?”
Of course, it was limited to this lifetime.
Although it seemed suspicious that the answer was faster than the question, he seemed to agree.
“Well, since I am also a human for the first time, where would you have seen me? Or do all humans naturally have such indifferent personalities?”
To be honest, I find it very surprising that I am having such a light conversation with the Demon King right now.
If there’s something I want to ask, instead of having a conversation, you broke my legs to cut off my means of escape, used torture and evil deeds to get what you wanted, and then continue this pointless conversation when you can’t even just be indifferently thrown away… … .
Is this demon really the demon lord I knew?
“… … “Why were you here?”
For the first time since we started this conversation, I asked a question.
“me? I was originally touring around here with a demon who was very nagging. Meanwhile, I felt a strange energy coming from this side of the canyon, so I came here. “You really didn’t know there were humans?”
“itineracy?”
“Yes, tour! As the Demon King, it is basic for me to patrol the land I reign over. Actually, it’s normal for me to skip meals because it’s annoying, but this time, I had no choice because of that nag… … .”
As he continued his story, his face suddenly distorted.
It was as if he had been caught saying something he shouldn’t have said.
“Hey, kid. My, what did I just say?”
“As the Demon King, patrolling the land I rule is basic?”
“Uh, yeah, right… … .”
Belkarion was scratching his head as if something was amiss.
“Aren’t you surprised?”
“what?”
“Aren’t you surprised when I just said that I am the devil?”
“… … .”
“You really saw me somewhere, right? Otherwise, would even a little boy who doesn’t know the world react that way when he hears the word ‘demon king’? “Have you not heard that the devil will catch you if you don’t listen to your mother?”
I don’t know what this is doing.
Certainly, the demon lord I see now is not the ruthless demon lord I knew.
Are you saying that even the Demon King wasn’t evil from birth?
If I don’t drastically change future history, an invasion by the demonic army will be scheduled in the not-too-distant future.
If this simple and easy-going appearance was the Demon King’s original nature, then what on earth caused him to change?
In the end, do I have no choice but to fight the demon lord who has changed like that again?
“Really, the more I look at him, the more strange he seems. Anyway, you have to go back to where you came from, right? “Is it okay to go across this river?”
“I plan to.”
“Yes, it’s only uncomfortable to stay in an inappropriate place for a long time. It was a short time, but it was nice to meet you, kid. “I don’t think I’m particularly worried since I’ve seen how they catch hellhounds, but be careful anyway.”
I even received a friendly send-off telling me to be careful.
Is this really the end?
Unlike a little while ago, when I thought I would be able to come back alive, I feel like it ended very poorly.
I turned around with a slight remaining sense of caution, but for some reason, I couldn’t easily move forward.
I felt like I had to ask something very important.
“you… … .”
“hmm?”
“If you really are the Demon Lord… … ”
The dry saliva that had accumulated in my mouth was swallowed, and my heart continued to beat loudly.
I turned my head, met his gaze once again, and slowly let out the words that had filled my throat.
“What do you want to do as the Demon King?”
A question that contains a lot of truth.
Furthermore, it was a question that could serve as a trigger for how I would be connected to this being called the Demon King in the future.
Belkarion was looking at me with wide eyes, as if he was dumbfounded.
“This little boy, now that I see it, I see that he was not bold, but reckless.
He, who had maintained a stationary posture the whole time, finally took his steps and came towards me.
The distance of ten steps was suddenly shortened to the distance between one finger.
“What do you want to do as the Demon King?”
A tall body that was twice my height looked down at me with a heightened gaze.
“Is there anything special? I just need the people living under me to eat well and live well. Because that is the role a king must perform… … but!”
The fiery Demon King’s eyes flashed wide for a moment, and a lot of his suppressed inner murderous spirit was revealed.
There was a smile so creepy that a clown could ascend to heaven.
“If there are people who interfere with that! What if there is someone who goes beyond interference and causes harm! They dare to invade my land and destroy all of my people for harming them! “That is my duty as the owner of this land and the demon king!”
It was a very brief moment, but I could feel it clearly.
The cruel truth of Demon King Belkarion that I knew… … .
Although many unknown shackles are currently holding him back, he once again realized that those shackles could be released at any time and that that day would be the day when chaos would arrive in the world.
I don’t know if I can prevent that planned future.
However, there is only one thought that clearly remains in my mind.
“Demon King, won’t you make a deal with me?”
“transaction?”
Belkarion scratched his head when he was asked to make a deal out of nowhere.
“I don’t know what will happen to you in the future, but it will bring about tremendous changes that can overturn your current mindset. It’s like it’s turning the world upside down… … .”
“What kind of nonsense are you suddenly talking about? Why do I have to live in a normal world… … ?”
“I don’t know what will happen. But what I can tell you for sure is that you will be 180 degrees different from what you are now because of that incident. And your change will have a big impact on our human world… … .”
As if he realized that what I said was not a boast, he also asked back with serious eyes.
“Are you saying I’m going to invade your land?”
“So let’s make a deal. “No matter what happens, please don’t come over to our land.”
The Demon King snorted.
“under! Kid, are you a prophet or something? It’s funny that you’re asking for a quick deal, but are you asking me not to come over to your land? Okay, if I don’t give in, kid, what are you going to do to me?”
“I will help you.”
He looked puzzled, as if he didn’t understand what he meant by helping.
“What can I help you with?”
“Anything. I will help you solve all the crises and difficulties that come your way. “It will definitely be of great help.”
The Demon King looked intently into my eyes for a moment without saying anything.
I also waited quietly until he opened his mouth.
“Little one, what is your name?”
“Sian Bert.”
“Sian Bertra… … . Okay, as the master of the demon world, I promise. No matter what happens, we will not invade your land.”
The Demon King obediently agreed to my deal.
“But, if you say you’ll help with anything, you definitely have to take responsibility. “I absolutely hate people, whether children or adults, who don’t keep their promises.”
I nodded silently.
I don’t know if this deal will continue into the not too distant future, but if we ever meet again, at least then we won’t have to clash swords with the Demon King.
The best thing would be to never meet him again… … .
I was on my way back to the front line again.
(Continued in the next part)
