I Picked up the Demon King - Chapter 136

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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 136

 

“Come play with… me…”

 

Little Ruin’s voice stretches out eerily. His face seems to distort strangely, and when I come to my senses, everything has returned to normal again.

 

I could see the young Saint who had been watching from afar flinch and hide herself.

 

There was no need to worry about her.

 

What was important now was somehow bringing down this illusion.

 

I place my hand on the Magic Circle and concentrate. The Demon Lord must have put considerable effort into it, as there was no change for a while, but when the Ice Spirit approached and overlapped her hand with mine, the world distorted slightly once again.

 

The sounds around me stretched out and returned repeatedly.

 

It was a strange feeling.

 

What had been being captured by the Demon Lord turned into a confrontation, and now it felt like a Magic lesson.

 

I exploit the vulnerabilities in the Magic the Demon Lord deployed. When the Demon Lord fixes them, I find new vulnerabilities. This naturally led to finding and compensating for the vulnerabilities in the Magic I was deploying.

 

I feel more growth than I’ve ever experienced before. My control over Divinity is also rapidly increasing. If I can do this much in a space dominated by the Demon Lord, how much easier would it be to use Deception outside?

 

“Look at this! How amazing…”

 

Little Ruin raised his arm that had been sucked in like a whirlpool and shouted.

 

The gathered Little Kids recoiled in horror. My vision went completely dark, and when I opened my eyes, the space had changed. Each time the illusion was reconstructed, it seemed to unfold different times and different spaces.

 

Even so, the fact that it was somewhere in this damn Research Laboratory remained unchanged.

 

Depending on how you think about it, it was like a dream. If I had to classify it, it would be a damn nightmare. The children, the Researchers, and the spaces all repeatedly distorted, collapsed, and regenerated. Sometimes the Laboratory would completely collapse, and sometimes the ground would split and I would fall through it.

 

I didn’t care how the World changed. I kept my hand on the Magic Circle and concentrated only on using Deception.

 

It wasn’t about deceiving the Demon Lord first.

 

What I needed to deceive was myself. Deceive myself, deceive the Magic cast on me, deceive this World surrounding me. Gradually expanding my territory like that to reach the Demon Lord who created this World. That was the only way to escape from this space.

 

The problem was Divinity.

 

Although I had quickly regained the Ice Spirit Power when the space first collapsed, the Ice Spirit still hadn’t recovered from the damage sustained when I used Necromantic Arts on her. It was because she hadn’t absorbed enough souls. It would have been good if we had shared the soul that came from defeating the Great Demon, but at that time I was too busy protecting myself.

 

In contrast, the Demon Lord possessed the relatively intact Divinity of a Dragon. I don’t know how he did it, but I could feel an aura much stronger than what I last remembered.

 

Even knowing it couldn’t be helped, I couldn’t hide my regret.

 

My rapidly rising proficiency. In contrast, the absolute gap in Divinity had no apparent solution.

 

* * *

 

“Extreme abnormal behavior.”

 

The Drinking Man, Cain, muttered while fiddling with the tip of his dagger blade.

 

“Is it something important?”

 

“Rumors are spreading that the Third Hero is fake. The Holy Nation is also considering whether to arrest them for blasphemy.”

 

“That’s natural. He’s a Hero officially recognized by the Goddess. Rather, I wonder why they haven’t stopped it yet.”

 

He tilted his head at his subordinate’s answer.

 

The symbolism that a Hero possesses is beyond what words can express. Imperial law designates Impersonation of that name as a crime, punishing not only the perpetrator but their entire family with death.

 

Because the founder of the Empire was none other than the First Hero. Likewise, the Religious Order wouldn’t leave the Impersonation of the Goddess’s representative alone. Anywhere on the Continent, speaking carelessly would lead to facing an inquisitor.

 

That’s just for simple Impersonation. So what punishment would denying a Hero’s legitimacy bring?

 

“Officially, there are two reasons.”

 

“Two?”

 

“One is that the theater troupe in question has expressed strong support for the Hero all along. They’ve been praising him as the true Hero since before the current Hero was officially recognized.”

 

A certain theater troupe naturally came to Cain’s mind. It was quite famous, so he remembered watching their performance.

 

There was nothing special about it. His only impression was that it wasn’t particularly impressive compared to its fame. Of course, he wasn’t certain if the troupe his subordinate mentioned was that same troupe.

 

“The other is that the theater troupe is strongly insisting that the content of the play is purely fictional.”

 

If it’s not inciting facts, quite a bit of fiction is allowed in performances.

 

“That alone doesn’t make sense.”

 

Quite a bit. That means not everything. No matter how much they claim it’s fiction, a story denying a Hero couldn’t be allowed. That ultimately means there are other reasons.

 

“You said there were two official reasons. Then what’s the unofficial reason?”

 

“It seems the Golden Star Trading Company is behind that theater troupe.”

 

“….”

 

Cain’s face hardened.

 

Dahan, the owner of the Golden Star Trading Company, also serves as the current Empire’s chancellor.

 

A being who elevated his Trading Company to the Continent’s top position through all sorts of incomprehensible actions, and finally even gained the Emperor’s trust. As long as they don’t know what he’s thinking, they can’t carelessly touch the theater troupe.

 

Needless to say for the Empire’s subjects, the Holy Nation, which owes him enormous debts, would be the same.

 

“…There’s no need to worry about it. It concerns the Third Hero.”

 

As if he had a headache, he pressed his forehead with one hand.

 

The chancellor was just as troublesome for him as well. Though he prided himself on having faced quite a number of human types despite his age, he couldn’t fathom what that merchant was thinking.

 

He was an existence that went beyond troublesome to downright repulsive.

 

“Let’s leave this matter alone for now. I’ll have to discuss it separately with the chancellor later. More importantly.”

 

Cain tucked the dagger into his chest.

 

Rising from his seat and adjusting his clothes, he asked.

 

“Any contact from the Black Tower Master?”

 

“Not yet.”

 

He let out a deep sigh.

 

Not long ago, he had received sudden contact from Black Tower Master Kaella. Something about demons, research laboratory colleagues, and whatnot.

 

It was a ridiculous story.

 

She wasn’t the only one who had regained memories of the research laboratory. Unlike the other companions, Kaella was someone who hadn’t even received a name back then. They had never encountered each other separately in the research laboratory.

 

So Kaella, who became a Dark Mage, had finally summoned demons too. She had gone completely insane. That was all there was to it. A demon or two that happened to survive wasn’t much of a problem.

 

The problem was that he could no longer be certain of that.

 

The continuous confusion of memories that had been ongoing recently. No, should he call them nightmares?

 

At first, he hadn’t even noticed. New memories had been painted over his original memories so naturally. Kaella’s presence, which definitely shouldn’t have existed, was there with him.

 

The moment he noticed it, his head felt like it was being shaken violently. All sorts of strange and terrible scenes burrowed into his mind. Even when he tried to ignore them, he couldn’t. Even bringing in the old folks from the Magic Tower didn’t change anything.

 

He couldn’t understand what kind of phenomenon this was.

 

If there was a likely possibility, perhaps it was a mental attack from demons. He had been waiting for Kaella’s contact to confirm that.

 

But there was no response.

 

She might have already joined hands with the demons, or conversely, she might have been defeated by them. Of course, if it was the latter, Cain was confident he could mock her with all his might.

 

“The Saint… What about His Holiness the Pope?”

 

“Similarly. There’s no response.”

 

“Hah…”

 

It was frustrating but couldn’t be helped. That guy was completely broken due to the aftereffects of the Goddess directly descending into his body.

 

“Find the people I’m telling you to look for.”

 

Cain conveyed the characteristics of the figures that came to mind. They weren’t particularly remarkable features, and they were from long ago, but that didn’t matter much.

 

They were all researchers who had participated in the artificial Hero project long ago. There was no need to capture them specifically, but their identification was already complete.

 

They would probably be able to capture them before long.

 

But he didn’t have high expectations. If it could create such confusion even in himself, the heads of ordinary mages or researchers would have already been unable to handle the load and broken down.

 

In the worst case, they might have to wage war with the Black Tower. He wanted to avoid that. Cain didn’t have very good compatibility with Kaella.

 

“Are you going out?”

 

“Yes. I need to go see His Majesty the Emperor.”

 

The Emperor, if it was Ruin who was the Hero and leader, might know some solution.

 

Cain left his hideout and appeared at the Imperial Court.

 

The servants and nobles who noticed Cain’s presence bowed their heads. Though he was a commoner without a single title, he was the Emperor’s former companion and close friend. He was an existence that upstart nobles without history couldn’t treat carelessly.

 

He moved his steps without hesitation. No one could stop him. They couldn’t even think of stopping him. Because the Emperor had permitted it.

 

However, his steps stopped before a single door.

 

“Please stop.”

 

A white-haired knight.

 

Cain’s head tilted crookedly. The youthful face and white hair showed that he belonged to the Royal Guard Knights.

 

That didn’t give him the right to stop Cain.

 

“Move aside. I’ve come to meet His Majesty the Emperor.”

 

Cain held back.

 

Not because the other party belonged to the Royal Guard Knights, but because he knew they had once been in the same situation, mobilized for the same research.

 

“I cannot allow it.”

 

However, whether the knight knew this or not, he did not back down.

 

“Don’t you recognize my face?”

 

“I know who you are. But I cannot allow it. His Majesty is currently meeting with a guest.”

 

“A guest. What kind of important guest could it be.”

 

This frustrating response was probably part of that as well.

 

How could guys who had been confined in research laboratories be capable of flexible responses? Though there were many who sought the Emperor, they probably didn’t know that most of them held no value whatsoever.

 

But that thought came to a complete stop at the knight’s answer.

 

“…The Hero.”

 

Why would the Hero suddenly show up here?

 

Of course, there was nothing wrong with the Current Hero coming to visit his senior, but somehow the timing seemed rather coincidental.

 

-Come in.

 

Just then, a low voice came from inside. The Knight quietly stepped aside and opened the door.

 

The Hero’s Party came into view. Most wore dark or calm expressions. Cain waved his hand toward the Emperor sitting on the throne, having confirmed that even a woman in leather clothing flinched and froze in surprise.

 

“It’s been a while.”

 

“Has it.”

 

“I came because I have something to say, but it seems there were people here first. Should I wait?”

 

The Emperor rested his chin on his hand, thought for a moment, then spoke.

 

“Hero, Johnny. Since that fellow has come, how about asking him once?”

 

The Hero, who had been sitting with a dark expression, looked straight at Cain’s face and asked.

 

“Cain. Friend of the Emperor, and right hand of the previous Hero. Lord who rules the Darkness of the Continent.”

 

“You don’t need to say unnecessary things. That’s not my style.”

 

As he waved his hand dismissively, Johnny asked with a much more relaxed expression.

 

“Would you join us in subjugating the Witch Kaella?”

 

Cain answered.

 

“Ah, that’s a bit…”

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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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