First of All, I’m Drinking - Chapter 102

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 102

To think I would discover traces of demons in the Intermediate Realm.

I felt strangely pleased about it.

“Did you discover something?”

Merry leaned forward.

“There was demonic energy remaining. I can see it with my eyes.”

I looked up at Merry and grinned.

“It’s definitely a demon. Doesn’t seem to be a high-ranking one though.”

The stronger the demon, the denser the demonic energy they wield.

However, the owner of this demonic energy wasn’t that strong an entity.

I could easily deal with it at my current level.

“Let’s go check the other areas marked on the map.”

The map the Emperor gave us had locations where the Demon Subjugation Society had appeared marked nationwide.

We spent a full day checking most of the locations.

The result.

“There are places where the Priests of Lucifer carried out kidnappings, and places where demons personally made appearances.”

The map kindly had information about the beastmen kidnapped from each region written as footnotes.

In places where demons had directly shown themselves, strong beastmen had definitely been kidnapped.

Among them were beastmen with Expert class or higher combat abilities.

‘If there were bishops or cardinals among the priests, they could have subdued even Experts with force.’

Rather than not trusting the priests and stepping forward.

There was a high possibility they were enchanted by the fragrant scent strong beastmen emit.

Unable to wait for that moment when priests would kidnap beastmen and bring them before the demon, they personally went hunting to devour them as quickly as possible.

‘Not a very patient fellow.’

Well, I understand.

Unlike the Demon Realm where the air is full of demonic energy, methods to replenish magical power in the Intermediate Realm were limited.

High-ranking demons like Deront might be different.

But entities below that level would find it difficult to control their instincts.

“Huff, huff. Now that we’ve looked at everything, is there a way to catch them?”

Kise, who had collapsed from exhaustion after using teleport continuously, asked while panting.

“A good method just occurred to me.”

I summoned a blade of demonic energy and slashed my forearm.

Slash-!

The skin tore lengthwise and blood dripped down.

“Your Majesty!”

Merry screamed in shock.

“It’s fine.”

What demons want is to replenish their nutrition by consuming magical power.

But naturally, pure demonic energy is much more appetizing to them than magical power.

I deliberately mixed demonic energy with my blood to spread the scent.

If there’s a demon nearby, it won’t be able to resist attacking.

“You guys hide your presence for now.”

The demon might get scared and run away from the aura emitted by three Master class individuals.

“Yes.”

“Understood.”

The three followed my command, concealed their presence, and hid in the nearby grassland.

A rural village with only empty houses left after residents fled following the kidnapping incident.

In the middle of a quiet path, I waited while dripping blood.

If it doesn’t come, I’ll just move locations and try again.

Whoosh-

The blowing wind swept across my bangs.

Before I knew it, the sun had set and moonlight was emptily illuminating the surface.

Two shadows were walking toward me from far away.

Step by step.

The shadows weren’t in human form.

They had a pair of horns protruding from their foreheads, ears as sharp as awls, and tails.

As they approached closer, I could see vertically slit red pupils and pale skin split like reptiles.

‘Bingo.’

Drip, drip.

I roughly wiped the blood falling from my forearm with my clothes to stop the bleeding.

The targets had taken the bait.

I smiled, baring my white teeth.

“It’s a human?”

The larger of the two demons spoke.

“Right, it’s a human.”

This time the smaller one pouted and grumbled.

“I definitely smelled demonic energy though.”

“It’s still coming. From that human.”

“Hmm?”

The two demons flared their nostrils and sniffed.

“It’s real? There’s a scent.”

“Demonic energy scent is coming from the human.”

“This is worth investigating. Let’s take him to the hideout.”

I released my hand from the sword hilt where I was about to draw my blade.

Take me to the hideout?

‘I can get to their base just by staying still?’

I revised my plan to subdue and interrogate them.

Looking at their faces, I made a shrill sound as if terrified.

“Eek, eeek! What! Who are you!”

“…”

I felt silent pressure from the grassland asking what kind of show this was.

Worried they might interfere, I quickly signaled the three with my eyes.

Absolutely don’t interfere, just watch.

“Don’t be afraid, human. I am Deilos.”

“I am Nephard.”

The larger one’s name was Deilos.

The smaller one was Nephard.

“From now on, you’re coming to the hideout with us.”

“If you want to live to see the sun tomorrow, follow us quietly.”

Tremble tremble tremble.

I shook my whole body.

“If… what happens if I don’t follow?”

The two demons giggled and answered.

“You get eaten by us right here on this spot.”

“We only eat beastmen, but even though you’re human, you look very delicious.”

Combined with their sharp teeth like carnivorous animals, it sounded extremely menacing.

An ordinary human would have fainted immediately upon hearing it.

“Ah, understood! I’ll follow quietly!”

I rubbed my hands together obsequiously.

“I’ll definitely follow without resistance, so please don’t cut off my limbs or put me in shackles!”

If they come at us that way, our plan to peacefully reach their hideout would be ruined.

“Puhaha! He’s completely terrified, this one.”

“Don’t worry, human. We like guys who know their place like you do.”

“As long as you don’t resist, we’ll take you there like gentlemen.”

Deilos and Nephard each grabbed one of my arms.

Black energy swirled as a magic circle appeared beneath our feet.

A spatial movement technique utilizing demonic energy.

Seeing them cast it impromptu without preparation, they seemed to have a high understanding of the technique.

“…!”

The trio hiding in the grassland gaped in shock.

No matter how much of a plan there was, anyone would worry if the next Pope got caught up in demons’ spatial movement magic.

Tap tap.

I gave them a glance while tapping my pocket.

With the communication stones, we could quickly locate each other anyway.

Only then did the trio show somewhat relieved expressions.

Flash-!

Black light engulfed my entire body.

* * *

I felt nauseous.

My stomach churned and my head spun.

These were well-known aftereffects of spatial movement.

Since my reincarnation, this was the first time I’d experienced symptoms this severe.

‘I’m realizing anew just how high-level Kise’s spatial movement magic is.’

I’d never experienced anything like this when traveling via Kise’s warp.

The casters seemed to be feeling just as sick, as Deilos and Nephard clutched their stomachs and breathed heavily.

“Whew, we’ve arrived.”

I looked around.

Walls made of rusted metal.

Machines that had been neglected and abandoned for a long time occasionally made creaking noises.

A cobweb-covered ventilation fan spun on the ceiling.

‘An artifact factory?’

It appeared to be unused and abandoned now.

The scale was larger than most grand manors.

The acrid smell of magical waste irritated my nostrils.

“You’re finally here, are you?”

“I wonder how delicious the beastman you brought this time will be, kekeke.”

Nearly ten demons emerged from the darkness.

“Huh?”

“It’s not a beastman?”

“It’s a human?”

The demons grew angry upon confirming I wasn’t a beastman.

“What’s going on, you two!”

“We said humans taste bad!”

“Bring beastmen! Beastmen rich in magical power!”

Deilos and Nephard smiled wickedly.

“You guys still haven’t caught on.”

“Focus a bit more on your sense of smell. See what scent you pick up.”

Sniff sniff.

The demons all thrust their faces forward and twitched their noses.

It was an extremely unpleasant and bizarre sight.

“Ooooh!”

The demons who caught the scent of demonic energy let out gasps of admiration.

“Demonic energy?”

“A human giving off the scent of demonic energy?”

“Humans shouldn’t be able to handle demonic energy due to their physical structure!”

In the Intermediate Realm, there generally wasn’t opportunity to encounter demonic energy.

Their reaction was like homesick patients smelling the scent of home after a long time.

“Kehehehe. He probably can’t actually handle real demonic energy. But since he smells of it, he’s worth researching.”

Deilos turned to look at me.

“Did you hear that, human? From now on, we’re going to open up your belly and examine your organs. I’m quite curious about what’s different from other humans.”

Nephard chimed in as well.

“I’m curious about the brain too. First let’s extract the eyeballs and split open the skull to examine inside the brain.”

“Puhaha! That sounds good too.”

Deilos and Nephard observed my expression to enjoy the terrified human’s reaction.

Of course, I remained calm.

Now that we’d arrived at their base, there was no need for such pathetic acting.

“Hmm?”

“Aren’t you afraid, human?”

Since I was being so nonchalant, they were the ones who became flustered instead.

Kwareuruk-!

Black demonic energy blazed fiercely in my grasp.

“Who said I can’t handle demonic energy?”

Swoosh-!

I swept my hand through the air.

About half the demons in the abandoned factory had their heads drop to the floor with thuds.

The remaining half of the demons.

Especially Deilos and Nephard stared at me blankly, as if they couldn’t understand what had happened.

“Seems you haven’t fully adapted to the Intermediate Realm yet.”

I sneered at the dumbfounded demons.

“Don’t you know you shouldn’t carelessly bring strangers home?”

Kururung-

Black clouds formed on the factory ceiling.

Hundreds of strands of black lightning struck down to the ground.

Pluton-style demonic energy application.

Dark Heaven Shocking Thunder.

Kwajik-! Kwareurung-!

The factory vibrated with thunder.

The demons struck directly by the black lightning turned to ash without even letting out death cries.

They weren’t particularly high-ranking for demons, but they still had about 5-star level combat power.

But now they were being miserably slaughtered without even being able to resist me.

This was reality.

If I displayed my true abilities, I could now turn even several Experts into powder.

‘The elixir bestowed by the Emperor has definitely increased the demonic energy I can utilize.’

Even though I’m still at the tail end of 5-star level, I can do this much.

If I continue like this past 6-star to 7-star.

If I reach the realm of Sword Masters.

‘Perhaps… I might be able to regain some of my divine authority.’

I could grant those who believe in Pluton the ability to use demonic power.

Pope Nicolaus too.

Merry, Kise, and Diago as well.

If it became known that the Deity was lending power again, even the declining Sect would be able to recover to its former glory.

“I have one more reason to quickly raise my level.”

I wanted to see Nicolaus smile.

Not the precarious smile he wore while harboring worry and anxiety within.

But a bright laugh born from pure happiness.

“Hah, haaaaah!”

“No, what is this… How did this…”

All demons except Deilos and Nephard had been annihilated.

They couldn’t even leave corpses behind.

Only the blackened burn marks stuck to the rusted floor remained as the sole trace that the demons had existed.

Tremble tremble tremble.

Deilos and Nephard stood frozen in place, shaking violently.

“Really… a human wielded demonic energy.”

“What are you, exactly.”

How should I deal with these guys.

After thinking for a moment, the answer came quickly.

“Actually, two is still too many.”

There was no need to have two mouths for interrogation.

One would be sufficient.

“…”

Understanding my meaning, Deilos and Nephard’s gazes met in the air.

“From now on, kill each other. I’ll spare only the one who survives.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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