I Picked up the Demon King - Chapter 112

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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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Chapter 112

 

Absorbing another’s soul wasn’t as simple as one might think. More precisely, dealing with the aftermath wasn’t easy.

 

I recalled the memory of when I first used soul magic.

 

Overwhelming chaos. A moment when I was confused about who I even was. If I were to lose control, I would no longer be myself.

 

Farmer, soldier, mage, paladin, bandit…

 

Through repeated practice, I had grown the caliber of my soul. At some point, I no longer felt much burden from soul absorption. However.

 

-Kieeeeee…!

 

What I saw before my eyes was a storm of souls I had never even imagined in my life.

 

-You should hurry, shouldn’t you?

 

‘…I know.’

 

Blood flowing down my ears. Just hearing it alone shocked my soul.

 

My already blurry vision flickered. As mana returned, even my heart convulsed. I failed at magic circle creation several times in a short period. Even with the World Tree restoring my life force, it wasn’t easy.

 

Barely managing to near completion of the magic circle. Now all that remained was activation, but…

 

I was afraid.

 

I had no choice but to admit it. I had to admit it.

 

I lacked confidence. It could be called fear carved into my soul. Maintaining my own identity while absorbing tens of thousands of souls was nearly impossible.

 

Moreover, the more I used soul magic, the closer I became to the Demon Lord.

 

Even just once… what kind of result would absorbing such souls bring?

 

If I did nothing, I would die. I would become a fool who defeated a powerful enemy but died because I couldn’t handle the aftermath. But wasn’t losing myself also not much different from death?

 

“Kuk…”

 

Remal, who had been supporting me, collapsed and groaned. Johnny, who had fallen, trembled. The footsteps heard from afar stopped. Yes. Those things tainted by the Great Demon’s divinity were disasters by their very existence.

 

The Demon Lord laughed.

 

“…You, just wait until this is over.”

 

I finally activated the completed magic circle. Emitting an ash-gray light, the soul magic was triggered.

 

A sensation completely different from using mana.

 

From the magic circle mixed with the divinity of the dragon and ice spirit, cold energy burst forth.

 

-Kii, kiik.

 

The storm of souls that had been gradually growing in size and intensity began to slow down. Sensing the crisis, tens of thousands of souls focused on me.

 

I poured out all the mana that was slowly recovering. The empty core screamed as it tried to collapse.

 

It would have been unmanageable if I had just left it alone anyway. Taking this opportunity, I released even the minimal mana and divinity that comprised the core and poured it all into the magic circle.

 

Accordingly, chains extended from the magic circle.

 

The souls that sensed danger rushed toward me. I shot the generated chains at the souls.

 

-Kiie, kiieek!

 

Hundreds of souls were pierced by a single strand.

 

It wasn’t enough.

 

Though I had slowed the speed of the rushing souls, I was being pushed back. I retrieved the chains with souls attached toward me while shooting out other chains.

 

One, two… Dozens of chains rose up from the floor.

 

Hundreds, thousands of souls screamed as they were bound and pierced by the chains.

 

I took a step forward and…

 

Bit into the blackened soul.

 

* * *

 

“Kuk…”

 

One by one, those who had been lying down began to rise, clutching their heads.

 

“Is everyone alright?”

 

Albeng asked with a pale complexion. Even though he couldn’t steady his own body, he was infusing holy power into the person right next to him.

 

Shtidy, who had been sitting collapsed while holding his head, saw this and said.

 

“Why don’t you look after your own condition?”

 

“Unfortunately, I didn’t bring a mirror with me.”

 

“…You’re calling that a joke?”

 

Shtidy frowned as he felt his headache intensifying. Albeng shrugged his shoulders and smiled with satisfaction. However, his complexion was so poor that he looked like someone who could collapse at any moment.

 

“I have my reasons for doing this. When the other priests regain consciousness, it’ll be good for everyone.”

 

“Well, that’s true, but…”

 

Shtidy watched the priest collapsed in front of him gradually stirring. When that priest woke up, it seemed like the first thing to do would be to have him heal Albeng.

 

‘Then me next…’

 

Whether it was the effect of being devoured by darkness, or the influence of the screams he had briefly heard, his head hurt as if it would split.

 

Suppressing the nausea that was rising, Shtidy woke up the soldier beside him. The soldier who had been lying limp jumped up in surprise.

 

“…”

 

“What. Magic is better than holy power.”

 

“No, that’s not it.”

 

Albeng watched this scene with an expression that suggested he had much to say, then turned his head away.

 

Before long, everyone in the expedition had awakened. While the commanders were checking the headcount, Shtidy, who was receiving treatment for his headache from Albeng, muttered.

 

“What on earth happened?”

 

It was a topic that had already come up several times. It was a question that arose in everyone’s minds, and also a problem with no answer.

 

“We thought our Hero had defeated the Great Demon.”

 

The moment they were devoured by darkness, they thought they would die just like that. In a space where nothing could be felt, they waited while experiencing terror that seemed to drive them insane. If not for the Hero’s final cry, there would have been plenty who would have taken their own lives.

 

Then suddenly, the darkness disappeared and the scattered expedition awakened in one place. It was a situation where anyone would have no choice but to think the Hero had resolved the crisis.

 

Just as they were about to go greet the Hero with joyful hearts, everyone lost consciousness again. It couldn’t help but be confusing.

 

“Actually, what if it wasn’t the Great Demon who fell, but the Hero?”

 

Albeng muttered with a serious face. Shtidy’s expression twisted.

 

“Just the fact that we’re having such a leisurely conversation shows that’s not the case.”

 

“You never know. We might all be meeting in the Goddess’s embrace.”

 

“The Goddess’s embrace is colder than I thought.”

 

Shtidy said, tapping the hard stone floor. Only then did Albeng’s expression soften, and he chuckled.

 

“I’m joking.”

 

“What kind of joke…”

 

“It’s not that I never thought about it. The Goddess’s embrace, honestly, I never expected it to be that warm anyway.”

 

Though it was a feminine voice, Shtidy couldn’t hide the doubt that suddenly arose.

 

She had attended chapel services at the Academy a few times during her school days. Even though she wasn’t particularly interested in doctrine, she knew what the Believers’ goal was.

 

“Living forever in the Goddess’s warm embrace. Wasn’t that it?”

 

“Let’s go out to greet the Hero. After all his hardships, it wouldn’t do to have no one waiting for him.”

 

Albeng changed the subject.

 

It was so obvious that he didn’t want to discuss the previous topic any further that Shtidy sighed.

 

“No personnel casualties.”

 

“Let’s move out. Though I’m not sure which way is forward.”

 

The darkness that had devoured everything was gone, but the darkness of the Papal Palace was deep and profound. Those who had scattered to survey the surroundings discovered nauseating sights several times before finally finding a collapsed wall.

 

Inside, they found Johnny collapsed on the floor, clutching the Holy Sword.

 

However, no one could readily approach Johnny.

 

The surrounding scenery was far too alien.

 

Tree trunks covering all the walls. A pillar rising in the center of the room as if supporting the ceiling. And beside it, an Elf quietly standing guard with bow drawn.

 

“Who are you…?”

 

Elves were not a particularly friendly race toward humans. Though they were the race that had helped the Hero defeat the Demon Lord a thousand years ago, their behavior appearing throughout the Continent since then could hardly be called good.

 

Those who called themselves Tree Searchers had even illegally infiltrated the Imperial Palace Archives, claiming to search for traces of the World Tree.

 

However, Shtidy stepped forward and asked the Elf.

 

“I’ve seen you once before, haven’t I?”

 

The Dark Elf before his eyes. A few months ago, when the Great Demon had appeared in this Papal Court. It was when everyone was frantically fleeing.

 

Unlike the others who immediately tried to flee upon realizing an unmanageable problem had erupted, this person had somehow tried to dig deeper into the Papal underground. Later, this individual became known as a demon follower and was wanted.

 

That was why Shtidy had spoken to him. Everything was questionable – why he had dug deeper inside back then, why he was here now, and what these trees covering the surroundings were.

 

“….”

 

“Are you ignoring me?”

 

Seeing him with the Hero, he might not be a demon follower. He might even be someone who helped defeat the Great Demon.

 

Though he had spoken thinking he couldn’t rashly attack, the Elf didn’t lower his bow and said.

 

“Human faces all look the same to me.”

 

“….”

 

“Don’t come any closer.”

 

What should they do? Shtidy slightly turned his head and asked Albeng with his eyes.

 

“Did you defeat the Great Demon?”

 

“….”

 

“He doesn’t seem to be an enemy.”

 

Albeng tested him with a subtle gaze, but the ash-colored Elf didn’t answer.

 

“May we take the fallen person over there? He’s quite important to us. If you refuse, it’ll be troublesome for both of us.”

 

The Elf nodded.

 

Albeng slowly approached with both hands raised and supported Johnny. There were no major injuries. Thanks to not letting go of his sword even while unconscious, they were able to safely recover the Holy Sword as well.

 

“Now go back.”

 

“Go back, you say. This isn’t Elf territory as far as I know.”

 

The Elf didn’t answer and pointed with his eyes to the tree pillar that had risen beside them.

 

They couldn’t understand what it meant. However, those who could sense mana to some degree could feel the tremendous energy surging within it.

 

It seemed the Great Demon had been defeated, but something ominous was happening inside there. However, they couldn’t definitively say the other party was an enemy either. If the expedition force had been in perfect condition it might be different, but now retreating was the right choice.

 

Having made their decision, Albeng and Shtidy pulled the soldiers back without lowering their guard.

 

Shtidy bit her lips.

 

This expedition had ended like this. However, they had accomplished nothing. They had somehow managed to clear the path, but they were captured without even seeing the Great Demon’s face.

 

Shtidy had prided herself on being an elite of the Magic Tower. Even though it was by chance, finding a way to pierce through the darkness had made that pride grow even more.

 

And she had accomplished nothing.

 

Even that pathetic Johnny had fought until the very end like that.

 

If Telon knew, he would laugh at her. She could almost hear him saying, “You should have just stayed at the Magic Tower doing research together, what did you come all the way here for?”

 

Just as Shtidy was about to leave.

 

“Wait.”

 

The Elf called out to her.

 

“Do you have something to say?”

 

“I’d prefer if humans didn’t come here for a while.”

 

“What do you mean by that?”

 

The moment they returned, the success of the expedition would be announced to the world.

 

From the Holy Nation Leadership wanting to reclaim the capital, to those who had lost their homes and wanted to at least recover their families’ remains. Many would come flocking, and Shtidy didn’t yet have the influence to stop that.

 

“It’s the price of the Hero’s life.”

 

There was no obligation to comply.

 

“It seems you always need time like this.”

 

However, Shtidy nodded her head.

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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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