I Picked up the Demon King - Chapter 119

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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 119

 

The next day, we also exterminated magical beasts.

 

Since my mission was complete, I was given a rest period, but I needed to test the Circle’s power, so I accompanied Remal on her mission. Eton, who wasn’t officially affiliated with the Black Tower and had no need to perform missions, kept grumbling, but I didn’t care. What could that insignificant thing possibly do anyway?

 

To put it simply, the Circle was quite a decent item.

 

Not only did it suppress the Core that would rampage at the slightest movement and reduce the burden on my body, but it also noticeably increased the power of my magic.

 

Even with Mana Bullets that were only at the level of a child’s punches, I was able to keep magical beasts in check. Of course, dealing direct damage was still too much to ask for, but if I could create multiple Circles, the story would be different.

 

“So it’s tomorrow then.”

 

Four days from when I opened my eyes until I came to the Magic Tower. Two more days had passed since then, so tomorrow would be the week that fellow Dahan had mentioned.

 

My memories still hadn’t returned.

 

Had my intuition been correct that I wouldn’t find my memories by just staying still? Even so, I couldn’t be satisfied with my choice, as there hadn’t been much change even after entering the Black Tower. If there was something different…

 

-Give…

 

A voice was heard through the ringing in my ears, accompanied by slight pain.

 

I frowned. This had been happening continuously for the past few days. Even when I tried to concentrate and listen, I couldn’t understand what it was trying to say.

 

“What’s happening tomorrow?”

 

The ringing disappeared at the voice I heard from behind.

 

I could tell who it was without turning around. It would be the Old Witch. It wasn’t like she was the only person in this Black Tower, yet she kept popping up everywhere. She must have quite a lot of responsibilities.

 

“It’s a personal matter. What’s going on? This should be my vacation period.”

 

“You picky brat. Wouldn’t it be good to perform several missions when you have the time?”

 

“I hate troublesome work.”

 

More than fighting magical beasts, the aftermath was more annoying. It was the same with the first request I performed, and also during Remal’s request.

 

The problem was that those so-called Nobles would all claim they never commissioned any request and try to weasel out of it. Threatening to execute us if we caused trouble was just being cute. Some had already gathered their Knight Orders and were on standby.

 

No matter how much they prepared, it was useless before Remal’s military power. But if it were an ordinary Dark Mage, they would either be defeated outright or have no choice but to return with their mouths shut.

 

The Black Tower, is this really okay?

 

No matter how much this was a place where Dark Mages gathered, only a few would be confident of safety and victory against a Noble Territory.

 

If they continued to go on missions like this, it was obvious they would only suffer losses.

 

“We’re also considering countermeasures for that.”

 

The Old Witch sat beside me, leaning her face against her staff as she spoke.

 

“We can’t destroy a territory just because they didn’t pay a few coins. Heh heh.”

 

“Well…”

 

Actually, destroying a territory wouldn’t matter much. As the Black Tower’s infamy spread, the risk of being subjugated would also increase, but that was something the Tower’s leadership would handle.

 

I should stop these useless thoughts. I wanted to focus on the book in front of me.

 

The book was about Insect Control Magic, and it was quite inefficient and crude, so poorly written that it was completely unusable. However, the ideas were interesting – wasn’t this kind of unexpectedness always enjoyable?

 

I was reading it more like a Miscellaneous Book than a Magic Book. If I entertained the Old Witch’s conversation for too long, it would kill my mood.

 

“So. I don’t think I’ve heard an answer yet.”

 

“You’re a heartless fellow. Can’t I come if there’s no reason?”

 

Of course not. When I looked at her with eyes full of absurdity, the Old Witch smiled, showing her yellow teeth.

 

“Missions or you – bothersome things are all the same.”

 

A sigh escaped me naturally.

 

Judging by her mana, she seemed to be a Dark Mage of considerable level, so why was she doing this here? Unless she was going to tell an interesting joke, I wished she would disappear quickly.

 

“The Tower Master will return tomorrow.”

 

“Tower Master?”

 

Finally, something interesting came from the Old Witch’s mouth. The return of the Black Tower Master, whose identity had been unknown until now. I didn’t know what his abilities were like, but he was presumed to be someone with considerable skill.

 

But my interest quickly faded.

 

He was someone I would naturally learn about as time passed anyway. Right now, I was more curious about the face of the author who wrote this Magic Book.

 

“Right. Since you’ve never met the Tower Master, I’m telling you in advance to at least see his face when you get the chance.”

 

Whether she knew my thoughts or not, the Old Witch left behind her cackling laughter and departed.

 

* * *

 

The morning of the seventh day since I regained consciousness dawned.

 

The Tower was quite bustling. I understood since the Master of the Black Magic Tower had returned, but thanks to that, I woke up early and felt quite displeased.

 

“My head seems to hurt a little too…”

 

Was it lack of sleep? It didn’t seem to be just that. This body seemed quite sturdy, if not to a satisfactory degree. Going without sleep for a day or two wouldn’t be problematic.

 

As I left my room and headed underground, Remal, who had somehow followed along, asked.

 

“Shall I eliminate him?”

 

“What?”

 

“I understood that you intended to take control of the Black Tower. Removing the Tower Master would be the fastest method…”

 

“Wouldn’t it.”

 

I shook my head and went down the stairs.

 

The Black Tower didn’t look like a tower from the outside, but it was dug deep underground. I heard it was renovated from what some High-rank Dark Mage used as a dungeon.

 

In terms of floors, it exceeded twenty levels. The overall structure was like an inverted tower, but when more space was needed, they dug sideways, creating a quite efficient structure.

 

The library was a place I quite liked.

 

Perhaps because the Tower’s history was still short, many places were empty, but the considerably spacious area still made me feel mentally comfortable.

 

Except for the fact that it was usually crowded with people.

 

Due to their individualistic nature, Dark Mages originally found it extremely difficult to obtain knowledge. In such circumstances, a Magic Tower was built and a space filled with magic books was created. In a way, it was natural for it to be crowded.

 

That library was completely empty. Not just of books, but of people too.

 

The reason was obviously only one. The Master of the Black Magic Tower. Someone I had never seen before, but who was undoubtedly presumed to possess outstanding abilities.

 

Everyone in the Magic Tower must be preparing to welcome him in their own way.

 

It had nothing to do with me. Thinking so, I moved to find the book I was reading yesterday.

 

“Remal.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Didn’t I definitely leave it here yesterday?”

 

“That’s correct.”

 

There wasn’t any.

 

Though I had officially registered my name with the Black Tower, perhaps because I had only just formed one Circle, I wasn’t permitted to borrow books yet. So I had been putting what I was reading back in its original place before returning.

 

“Ha.”

 

A chuckle escaped me.

 

There’s no way someone would have taken such trash to learn from it. Was there perhaps a human who recognized the entertainment value contained within? I acknowledge their discernment, but it was quite unpleasant that they had taken what I was reading in the middle of it.

 

Of course, that doesn’t mean I intend to hold them responsible… I flipped through several other books, but nothing appealing caught my eye.

 

“I should head back.”

 

I return to my room. By tomorrow, whoever borrowed it should have returned it to its original place.

 

The moment I stepped out of the library door, I heard tremendous noise. It was the sound of hundreds of people chattering frantically.

 

Nothing from start to finish was going my way today.

 

“It seems the Tower Master has arrived.”

 

“…Should I go take a look.”

 

I had nothing else to do anyway.

 

Though I had tried not to pay attention since I didn’t yet possess sufficient power, it wouldn’t be bad to assess their level in advance while heading back to my room.

 

As I climbed the staircase, the noise grew louder and louder. People began appearing one by one.

 

“This is almost like they’re welcoming a God.”

 

There were those clasping their hands together muttering something, and others prostrating themselves in tears. Even if the Imperial Emperor appeared, there probably wouldn’t be many who would show such reactions.

 

A hazy scene came to mind. I felt like I had seen something similar to this before.

 

God.

 

Right. Not in the Empire, but in the Holy Kingdom, it was the moment when God’s voice echoed forth. Was it during the Great Service? Several times before that as well…

 

“A mere human, acting like a God.”

 

It was presumptuous, and amusing.

 

I don’t know if the Tower Master intended this. But just the fact that it brought back associations and memories was quite unpleasant. That fact was amusing.

 

Moreover, memories that I had tried so hard to recall but couldn’t remember were now surfacing like this. Was it because a week had finally passed since I awakened? Or was it because of this scene?

 

Footsteps could be heard from afar.

 

Though no one had shouted for silence, a breathless quiet settled throughout the entire tower.

 

A young woman walked forward, her long robe billowing wide open. Her face wore an enchanting and mischievously playful smile, and her fingers twirled through her long red hair. The woman spoke.

 

“There are quite a lot more people than before.”

 

I know…

 

I know that face.

 

“How interesting.”

 

The face that laughed madly while casting magic came to mind. How many demons had died alongside that smile? The Mage who had subjugated the Demon Realm with the Hero had now become the master of Dark Mages.

 

Yes. That woman is…

 

“Nice to meet you all. I am Kaela Rowan.”

 

Enormous mana pressed down on the surroundings.

 

“I’m a Dark Mage.”

 

“Haha, hahaha…!”

 

As my memories returned, I felt a sharp pain in my head. Even so, irrepressible laughter burst out.

 

While it’s true that I had intervened to some extent, now you’re converting to become a Dark Mage?

 

I hadn’t expected this. I hadn’t calculated this.

 

Naturally, this would work as a significant variable in my plans, but it didn’t matter. After all, what meaning would there be if everything flowed according to what was predetermined? That would be something only the Goddess would enjoy.

 

This is why it’s interesting. Human unpredictability is incomparable to that of demons. In some sense, aren’t humans more twisted than any demon?

 

Kaela Rowan looked at me laughing for a moment, then simply passed by and went down.

 

Good.

 

My interest in the Magic Book that someone had taken disappeared completely at this moment.

 

This place called the Black Tower, that woman called Kaella Rowan felt more interesting than ever before.

 

Returning to the room and closing the door, a voice that had been drowned out by the noise echoed in his head.

 

-Give it back…! Give me back my body!

 

Desperate and pitiful… It was the voice of such a young boy.

 

“Why would this be your body?”

 

How pathetic. The sight was so pitiful that laughter kept bursting out.

 

“Isn’t it our body?”

 

The boy’s soul thrashed about as if having a seizure, but there wasn’t much he could do.

 

“I’ll use it just a little longer and give it back. So…”

 

Go to sleep.

 

He snapped his fingers.

 

The single circle spun rapidly as a magic circle unfolded. The boy’s voice that had been echoing in his head disappeared.

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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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