202. Is it rest or laziness, or else… (4) A
newly carved wound can be seen slowly healing where the stigma used to be.
If you can see any healing, it means that the recovery speed is ridiculously fast, but if the owner of the wound is a warrior, the story is different.
‘Resilience to general wounds… it’s natural to heal right away, so let’s skip it.’
Because it’s actually strange that it doesn’t heal. The important thing is this.
The Demon King, who was looking at the recovery speed of the wound caused by magical power by pressing and releasing the wound for no reason, eventually came to a conclusion.
‘Compared to the warriors I’ve met so far, my recovery level is just average.’
Even after hearing such words from the head of the mermaid tribe, the results are average at best. It seemed like the world put a lot of effort into it, but I wonder if my physical condition had been so poor that it would have ended up like this.
Since his existing physical condition was not good, all physical talents were probably average for a warrior. In other words, it means that the most important part of being a warrior is not outstanding.
[The Demon King will die at the hands of the hero born this time.]
I don’t understand.
Why did a world that values efficiency choose this person? Why did the head of the mermaid tribe make such a statement?
When I heard those words, it may have seemed like I took it lightly, confident that nothing would happen as she said. But that can’t be possible. This is a statement from the head of the mermaid tribe who sees the future. Although the Demon King expressed confidence, he did not overlook her remarks.
A new gaze turned to Deonhardt.
‘…So that means you are my teacher.’
A warrior born after devouring 90% of my magical power from the threshold of death.
…iced coffee. There are still many questions, but I think I can understand the world’s intentions a little by looking at this. After organizing his thoughts, the Demon King focused on the current situation.
So what did Deon Hardt say?
[…So.]
[Are you going to kill me?]
Beautifully curved eyes filled my field of vision. Haha, the Demon King laughed.
You really are a fox. Even though he was openly referred to as a fox, he did not deny it.
…It’s also cheeky.
“no.”
don’t kill To be precise, I can’t kill him right now.
It wasn’t for nothing that I went all the way outside the Demon King’s Castle to meet the last time the hero came. A clash between a warrior who gave his best and the Demon King would be enough to ruin the Demon King’s castle, which is the size of a small city.
The last hero also had enough time to control his strength, so the aftermath of the collision was limited to a reasonable level. Otherwise, not only the demons who came out to watch, but also Deonhardt, who was hiding on the cliff and watching, would not have been able to escape the aftermath.
Even putting all those reasons aside.
“You’re still on my side.”
“….”
“There is no reason to kill our allies.”
The Demon King smiled brightly.
Deon kept his mouth shut. The words that came out after a short silence contained a static calmness, as if he had never smiled before.
“…I was going to make sure we occupied the human world anyway.”
Although I was just thinking about it vaguely.
Deon remembers the time he heard the Demon King’s explanation in the conference hall. It was about the restrictions imposed on demons when they crossed over to the human world. I was able to get some information there.
The world cares about the race called ‘humans’.
At least you will save more than the demons. Because the Demon King himself said that the Demons are a race hated by the world.
‘The world tried to use me.’
The moment you know the truth and make that promise, the purpose of the world is already half-fulfilled.
From the moment he was dragged into the Eight Year War until now, Deonhardt has lived under someone’s will. But I have no intention of leaving it like that until the end.
[Too much is too much.]
According to the purpose of the world, I will kill the Demon King. It is difficult to simply kill the Demon King cleanly, and I have no intention of doing so, so quite a few demons will also die in the process. However, it is unfair to eliminate only the demons—.
Deon smiled slightly at the conclusion. The Demon King had a puzzled question on his face, but he ignored it.
‘There’s a saying in the South like this?’
They say they burned the grass to catch fleas.
Before I kill the Demon King, I will burn the human world first.
I have no intention of crying and arguing about why it was me. Because it already happened. Also, I decided quietly that there was nothing more meaningless than making an emotional appeal to a transcendent being who did things with a purpose.
‘I’ll make you regret choosing me.’
The ‘Hero’ smiled happily.
──The pool of blood at my feet grew bigger.
***
The Demon King’s gaze passed by and landed at Deon’s feet. Before it was caught by the warrior’s keen senses for a moment, it naturally rose and was fixed on the face again.
A sweet and soft voice came out as if soothing.
“I understand that your condition is not perfect yet.”
“I am very healthy.”
“The body is like that, I guess.”
The problem is mental. You probably know it yourself.
The Demon King, who naturally accepted Deon’s warning words, slowly stood up.
“I think you need a change of pace. What do you think?”
And then he smiles and holds out his hand.
“What about going to see the flowers in the central garden?”
“I don’t like it.”
“Even though it is a flower of the human world?”
“…yes?”
“It was recently replaced. “I heard that you liked flowers you received from Hien in the past, so I prepared them for you.”
“…I never liked it.”
I felt better though.
Deon, who recalled the time before he became a warrior and sharpened his blade, answered hesitantly. The Demon King shrugged his shoulders as if it was okay.
“It will help you feel better.”
“…If you say that much.”
Deonhardt’s brain did not listen to the Demon King’s words directly. Instead of being moved by the story that they plowed the central garden and filled it with flowers from the human world, they doubt and calculate the other person’s intentions and look for gain.
So the thought that came to mind was this.
‘How much magical power did it take to bring the flowers from the human world to the demon world, grow them, and maintain them?’
The previous Demon Lord could not have said that he consumed that much magical energy, but it is different now that he consumed 90% of his magical energy while saving me. Nevertheless, the fact that he did something like this…
‘I guess he knew that I was measuring the total amount of magical energy remaining.’
In other words, it is for showing off magical power.
It was a show that I still had a lot of magical power left to waste on something like this, but as soon as this was noticed, his actions became useless bravado.
I suppressed a sneer, swallowed it, and grabbed the clues given in passing.
I don’t know when the garden was plowed, but the fact that it was already completed means that I noticed it before this conversation took place.
‘Well, there’s no way I wouldn’t notice.’
It’s been a while since I measured and calculated his magical power.
I pretended not to notice and held the devil’s hand. Deon smiled brightly as he raised his head and met smiling eyes.
“Of course I have to go.”
“I’m glad.”
The Demon King, who maintained an unwavering smile, gently led him.
….
Unlike before, the central garden was filled with flowers from the human world so bright that it was hard to believe they were in the same space.
From gorgeous and famous flowers like roses to small, unknown flowers commonly seen on the side of the road, the sight of all of this coming together was quite something to see even in the eyes of the devil, who ordered without much expectation.
‘It looks like it must have consumed a lot of magical power.’
The devil’s magic power was included. Although it was incomparably less than what was seen.
Most of the work depended on magic stones and Lirinel handled minor magic, so the Demon King did not have much need to use his power. It’s not that magical power is not used at all, but it is cost-effective for showing off magical power, and as a bonus, it can manage Deonhardt’s mental health, so there is no loss.
The Demon King turned his head inadvertently and closed his mouth when he saw Deon buried among the flowers.
‘…Now that I think about it, there was a time when a hero infiltrated the Demon King’s Castle by enticing demons.’
As if to not make fun of human imagination, the warriors invaded the Demon King’s Castle using various and ingenious methods. The beauty world was also one of them.
If Deonhardt wasn’t a member of the Demon King’s army, he might have easily gotten in that way. I burst out laughing at the funny family.
‘If Lirinel had seen this now, she would have fainted.’
Anyway, he seemed to like it, and Deonhardt’s mood softened.
At this point, I guess I can say it soon. The Demon King looked at Deon, who was looking at me as if he was puzzled by the sudden laughter, then glanced down, fixed it at his feet, and slowly began to chant.
“You know you’re cursed.”
“….”
Deon was frozen from the moment the Demon King’s eyes turned to his feet.
“If you don’t want to die of guilt, you’d better not feel guilty.”
“…this.”
Deon, who froze for a moment, took a step forward. Every time I take a step towards the devil, I hear a crunching sound from the soles of my shoes. As I walked away from the flower that had soothed my sense of smell, the bloody smell hit me again.
Still, there was no stopping. He asked, steadily narrowing the distance while looking directly into the Demon King’s eyes, as if he would not miss anything.
this. This annoying curse. What a fucking annoying curse.
“Do you see it?”
“No, I just feel it. “It’s not the first time I’ve seen it.”
“If it’s not the first time I’ve seen it…”
“It’s a common curse in times of war. Usually, it is not something that someone intentionally does, but it is created naturally by thoughts derived from a strong, clinging grudge. If I were to put it into words that are easy to understand, it would be something like a vengeful spirit. So usually people who commit many murders fall under this curse.”
“Then mine too….”
“Oh, it’s true that someone deliberately staked yours.”
The Demon King smiled slightly at the familiar magic felt from the curse.
“It’s a bit surprising that the condition was guilt. Usually, there are other conditions, such as the curse becoming stronger every time you commit a murder.”
“…How can I get rid of it?”
“doesn’t exist.”
“Why…”
It’s your magic power, right?
The Demon King’s most powerful hand was damaged by the Demon King’s contractor. This happened because you gave magic power to the duke, but you can’t fix it?
I caught the horse that was about to jump out without thinking. Although he kept his mouth shut, the Demon King placed his hand on Deon’s head as he got closer, as if he knew everything.
“It is true that magical power was used, but it seems that the magician had a bad mind. “As a curse offering, not only the magic power but also the soul of the afterlife was put on the line.”
“…under.”
“I don’t think I knew it or intended it.”
It seems like something is missing from the front of the horse. I should say, ‘It is true that I used my magic power.’
The Demon King would probably have realized that Deonhardt was aware of his contractual relationship with the Duke. Nevertheless, the reason he remains ignorant until the end is probably because Deon knows the difference between ‘guessing’ it alone under the water and bringing it to the surface and admitting it with his own mouth.
The point of acknowledging that it is magical power is the same as revealing that you have no intention of hiding it.
A steady voice added as if Deon’s silence had taken on a different meaning.
“How about separating the memories like before?”
The method chosen by young Deonhardt, who had just entered the battlefield, to avoid feeling guilty.
What kind of bullshit are you talking about now? For a moment, death appeared in Deon’s eyes.
‘….’
It was only for a moment that my emotions soared out of control. Before the Demon King sees this, his strong reason makes him lower his head, hides his eyes, and calms his voice. A dry voice that did not contain any sign of survival came out like a sigh.
“…there were my brother’s last words.”
“this.”
“I will no longer turn away.”
If you look away, you’ve already done enough. I worked hard for ten years until I lost the one remaining member of my family.
What Cruel said before he died was to stop turning a blind eye, so how dare he do that again?
So we have to find another way. Deon lowered his gaze.
