I Picked up the Demon King - Chapter 13

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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 13

 

Belive Territory Inner Castle, Lord’s Chamber.

 

Baron Belive, who had awakened late at night, was in quite a foul mood.

 

“A Dark Mage?”

“Yes. Priest Roil confirmed traces of mana.”

 

Just a few years ago, Dark Mages were symbols of terror.

 

Those who spread disaster with powerful Dark Magic. The Middle Realm was devastated, and humanity’s end seemed imminent.

 

Entire nations had fallen into the hands of Dark Mages.

 

“Currently, we’ve completely sealed the city gate to prevent his escape…”

“You woke me from sleep over just one Dark Mage?”

“…My apologies.”

 

All of that was ancient history now.

 

After the Hero’s appearance, Dark Mages were swiftly subjugated.

 

Even powerful Dark Magic couldn’t overcome the Hero’s divine authority. All skilled Dark Mages died, leaving only small fry who couldn’t even participate in the war.

 

They were gradually cornered, and eventually even the Demon Lord was subjugated.

 

‘Why now of all times…’

 

The Baron let out a sigh.

 

The timing was terrible. Due to its location near the Demon Realm, Belive Territory had always struggled with development.

 

However, after the Hero subjugated the Demon Realm, he had conceived a plan to develop the city through travelers making pilgrimages to the Holy Land.

 

He had secured promises of cooperation from the Religious Order and leveraged every connection he had to secure capital. Depending on circumstances, even a promotion to count was within sight.

 

A Dark Mage’s rampage at this critical juncture would inevitably have a devastating impact on all his plans.

 

“What’s the current situation?”

“We’ve deployed soldiers to search. The Religious Order has also offered support…”

“Of course they should support us. Do you know how many gold coins they’ve received from us?”

 

Baron Belive rubbed his throbbing head as he spoke.

 

“Since it’s already happened, there’s nothing we can do. Secure the Inner Castle perimeter properly and deal with that bastard quickly. Tonight. Find him and kill him before tonight ends.”

 

If they could handle it quickly, it could end as merely a single night’s incident.

 

“If necessary, you may mobilize the Knight Order.”

 

With this, he wouldn’t need to worry about this problem anymore.

 

The Baron thought so.

 

* * *

 

Soul Magic, which grows one’s own soul by absorbing the souls of others. Certainly, judging by practicality alone, it’s hard to consider it particularly high.

 

While the value of souls is infinite, their influence on the Mortal World is minimal.

 

-Spirit Command Magic is magic that commands such spirits. It’s one of the proper applications of Soul Magic.

 

What a complete soul can accomplish is at most lifting small objects.

 

Even that only applies to those harboring tremendous grudges or possessing elevated status. Most lose their form and begin to scatter the moment they separate from their physical bodies.

 

-Originally, it’s hard to consider its power particularly high. Even commanding one or two souls, what you can accomplish is limited.

 

This was why Dark Magic dealing with souls never developed. It was not only difficult to handle but also lacked proper applications.

 

However, material that could overcome such shortcomings at once lay before my eyes.

 

-Military Spirits. No matter how weak they are individually, when their numbers reach the hundreds, they cannot be ignored.

 

The Demon Lord had certainly said so.

 

The Soul Vial in my hand shattered, releasing the Military Spirit contained within.

 

[Kiiiii-!]

 

The Military Spirit writhed while letting out a horrible shriek.

 

Drawing up my mana, I recalled the Demon Lord’s explanation.

 

-The final stage of Soul Magic, replacing absorption with subjugation. Souls that lost their bodies gain you as an anchor, strengthening their sustainability.

 

What’s needed for subjugation is Familiar Magic. This is advanced magic of the Contract System, quite a difficult technique to handle.

 

But I had already seen its perfect form.

 

I lacked the ability to draw dozens of magic circles simultaneously. I recalled only the images from my memory that matched the Demon Lord’s explanation.

 

The required time was an instant. Grayish-white light burst from the magic circle drawn beneath my feet, and thick chains bound the Military Spirit.

 

-Kieeee-!!!

“Kugh…!”

 

Each time the chains binding the creature writhed, considerable recoil followed. However, there was no time to collapse from the pain.

 

-In addition to that, you need to add a process to make them obey commands. The method of control will vary depending on what technique you use…

 

When it comes to souls, I know a technique with the most powerful compulsive force.

 

“I swear.”

 

I bite my finger to draw blood. The blood is added to the magic circle drawn with mana, taking on a new form.

 

A Soul Contract technique that even the Demon Lord of the highest rank cannot defy.

 

[Kiii-?]

 

Three magics overlap, completing one new magic.

 

What I need to offer is a proposal the Military Spirit absolutely cannot refuse. Only one thing comes to mind.

 

“I will complete the Military Spirit’s revenge before the next sun rises.”

 

Mike, sensing something wrong, began charging at me.

 

“The price is obedience. Military Spirit, if you want revenge…”

 

The distance closes in an instant.

 

Explosive speed bursting from muscles trained for decades. He thrusts his spear with his fully extended arm.

 

I can’t deflect it with the old scythe, and my mana is depleted. If I stay still, I’ll be pierced through. However.

 

“Protect me.”

 

The Military Spirit wrapped in chains swings its arm.

 

The spear shaft that was extending in a straight line bends and bounces to the side. Mike’s grip tears and blood bursts out.

 

“Kuk, this is…?”

 

Mike takes a step back. His wavering eyes were directed precisely at the Military Spirit.

 

-The moment it exerts a certain level of physical force, the soul reveals its form. It’s brief, but even those without Spirit Sight can see it.

 

The magic circle that had fulfilled its role disappeared. I felt a new connection to the soul.

 

Proof that the Military Spirit accepted the contract and chose subordination.

 

For this, I must complete the Military Spirit’s revenge within today…

 

“That’s exactly what I want.”

 

Taking advantage of the city gate being closed, I’ll complete the trial. The Military Spirit’s revenge will naturally be completed in the process.

 

“I didn’t want to believe it, Jude.”

 

Mike, who had been alternately looking at his bleeding hand and spear, opened his mouth.

 

“Were you really a Dark Mage?”

 

A hollow laugh escaped me.

 

Just moments ago he was charging at me like he would kill me, and now what is he trying to say?

 

“Yes.”

“I thought of you like a son. If you wanted, I was even thinking of accepting you into the Guard Unit…”

“Did Amy know too?”

“What?”

 

His intention to buy time was obvious, but it didn’t matter.

 

-The advantage of this kind of technique is that the caster’s mana consumption is low. After all, the main source of power is the target.

 

The mana consumed while contracting with the Military Spirit was actually recovering while dealing with Mike.

 

The harmony between Spirit Command Magic’s characteristic mana consumption and extremely heightened recovery rate. The one who benefited from dragging out time was actually me.

 

“The items sold in the store, they were stolen from dead poor people.”

“…I never said that specifically.”

“So it was true.”

“….”

 

Mike picked up the spear that had fallen to the ground and charged again, but it was impossible to face the invisible Military Spirit.

 

Mike, fallen to the ground, shouted desperately.

 

“They were criminals! What’s wrong with disposing of criminals and obtaining spoils of war!”

“You knew they were innocent!”

“Their crime is!”

 

A voice that echoed through the slums.

 

“Being born as poor people. If the Lord decided to punish them, that’s reason enough to die!”

 

Disgust welled up at his voice that truly seemed to believe he had done nothing wrong.

 

-Kill him. There’s nothing good about keeping him alive.

“….”

-If you show mercy, there will be those who look down on you. Kill all who dare attack you. So that no one will even think of challenging you.

 

The Demon Lord seemed to truly think that way.

 

Even if it’s to survive, I’m already here having taken several lives. Hesitating might just be hypocrisy.

 

However.

 

The warm daily life of the past few days. No matter how much of a villain Mike might be, for even that to become a lie was….

 

“Over there! The Dark Mage is over there!”

“Captain! Just hold on a little longer!”

 

Voices heard from afar. The moment I reflexively turned my head.

 

-Tsk.

“Looking away during combat…?”

 

Many sounds were heard in that short time.

 

The sound of the Demon Lord clicking his tongue, Mike’s voice full of confidence. The sound of something tearing and….

 

-Kieeeek-!

 

A piercing death cry.

 

When I slowly turned my head back, there was Mike with his abdomen pierced through, still in the position of trying to thrust his spear.

 

“Huh…?”

-This isn’t the picture I wanted… but I suppose it doesn’t matter.

“What is, this.”

 

What had pierced through his abdomen was the Military Spirit’s grayish-white arm.

 

A completely unexpected scene.

 

I had only told it to protect me, I had no memory of commanding the Military Spirit to kill.

 

-Didn’t you swear? That you would get revenge.

 

It was a voice that sounded somewhat less interested.

 

-Even if it was following the Lord’s orders, the fact remains that this bastard was the actual executor. And such a guy tried to kill you. This too is a way of protecting you.

 

Mike checked his own abdomen and then tried to collapse… but couldn’t.

 

Crack.

 

The Military Spirit raised its other hand, grabbed Mike’s head, and tore it off.

 

“Wh-what is that thing!”

“It’s a monster! The Dark Mage summoned a monster!”

“I’ve never heard of such a monster…!”

 

The soldiers who had been running over hesitated.

 

-When giving orders, you must be specific. You can’t expect subordinates to figure out their master’s intentions.

 

The Military Spirit’s head turned toward them as it pulled its arm from Mike’s abdomen.

 

Their gazes, as if looking at a monster, turned directly toward me.

 

But my eyes were fixed on Mike’s corpse, collapsed on the ground with his head gone.

 

The face that had been awkwardly smiling just a few hours ago was now completely crushed beyond recognition.

 

“K-kill him!”

“Where are the Priests?”

“Call for reinforcements, quickly!”

 

Shouts rang out.

 

I could feel enemy reinforcements rushing in from the distance.

 

The soldiers who had stopped began approaching again.

 

-With that many numbers, it would be quite difficult for this thing to block them alone. Do you plan to keep standing there like that?

-Kieee?

 

The Demon Lord urged me, and the Military Spirit circled around me, screaming.

 

“Block them. No….”

 

Be specific when giving orders. I recalled the advice the Demon Lord had given me just moments ago and corrected myself.

 

“Kill them. I don’t care how you do it.”

 

The Military Spirit rushed at the soldiers as if delighted. Screams erupted from among the soldiers.

 

Even if it couldn’t block all of them, it should be able to buy some time. In the meantime, I….

 

With my mana now recovered, I drew another magic circle. It was soul magic, now more familiar than anything else.

 

-Didn’t I tell you? Any more absorption today would be too much.

 

There was one target.

 

Mike’s soul, which had emerged from his recent death.

 

-Even for you, you need to have a stabilization period for a while….

“It’s fine.”

 

I swallowed the soul before my eyes and raised my head to look at the sky.

 

It was more bitter than usual.

—————
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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