I Picked up the Demon King - Chapter 144

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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 144

 

My body was moving on its own.

 

However, even in the midst of this, my senses remained intact. I suppose this was time to experience firsthand how the Demon Lord had been living inside me.

 

I quickly became familiar with how to handle this power similar to mana.

 

Moving without rest and wielding magic, yet my mind wasn’t consumed at all.

 

So I continued what I had been doing.

 

Regaining control of my body and mana.

 

It wasn’t easy. No matter how hard I tried before, the Demon Lord had always easily surpassed me. But if it was now.

 

The Demon Lord’s abilities would surely be limited while performing such complex calculations as now. Perhaps it would be possible to regain control of my body, even if just slightly.

 

I drew a magic circle in my mind.

 

An imaginary magic circle without a single drop of mana. Naturally, it had no power whatsoever.

 

However, I recalled it with all my might.

 

The way to handle divinity is through strong will. Even without mana, if even the slightest bit of divinity could be contained, it might have an effect.

 

Twitch.

 

My finger moved.

 

I couldn’t tell if I had moved it or if the Demon Lord had intended it. But one thing was certain – it was the first unnatural action shown amidst the flowing, natural movements.

 

“It seems I tried to minimize interference as much as possible. Already to this extent? …No.”

 

My mouth opened.

 

Bewilderment appeared on the faces of the two Heroes who had been silently swinging their swords. They must be wondering what nonsense I was suddenly spouting.

 

So did I.

 

“Perhaps your growth is rapid.”

 

Suddenly, I had an intuition that those words were directed at me.

 

Of course, that didn’t mean I could understand everything. I had never properly understood the Demon Lord’s thoughts even once before.

 

Rapid growth. If I took that at face value, it would mean that moving one finger briefly was an action beyond the Demon Lord’s calculations.

 

I felt somewhat deflated. To think that my full effort amounted to only that much. Naturally, there was no joy in exceeding the Demon Lord’s expectations.

 

“It’s not a bad feeling, but not yet.”

 

My mood became significantly worse.

 

It felt like everything was flowing according to the Demon Lord’s intentions.

 

“Do you see it?”

 

My head turned to one side. The Heroes disappeared from view. Naturally, an opening must have occurred, but not a single attack reached my body.

 

The Demon Lord’s gaze was directed toward the distant east.

 

All that was visible was the massive path left by Dragon’s Breath. What was the Demon Lord seeing beyond that?

 

“There isn’t much left now.”

 

It was the umpteenth time I’d heard this muttering. I was gradually becoming curious about what it was waiting for, what it was trying to show. But considering the Demon Lord’s personality, it wouldn’t give me an answer. There was nothing good about worrying over it. Just as I was thinking that.

 

Something crashed down from the sky.

 

A massive shockwave spread out. It was such a great impact that even the chaotic battlefield stopped for a moment. Had a meteorite fallen?

 

“How pathetic, Senior.”

 

Shtidy’s weary voice echoed.

 

However, what had actually fallen was apparently Kaella Rowan, who had once tried to destroy the continent by summoning meteorites.

 

“Dragon’s Breath was dangerous. But to exhaust all your power with just that.”

 

Her voice sounded tired.

 

However, her appearance as she slowly descended to the surface was threatening. The tremendous mana surrounding her body mixed with black mist, distorting the surroundings.

 

What is that thing? It’s scary.

 

If the Demon Lord hadn’t been controlling my body, I would have surely mistaken that for the Demon Lord.

 

Could what the Demon Lord was waiting for possibly be that?

 

“How unsightly.”

 

However, what came from my mouth was a mocking mutter.

 

Kaella Rowan, who had been buried in the ground, staggered to her feet. Then she walked toward us.

 

“Where do you think you’re going?”

 

Shtidy extended her arm. Even with just that movement, space screamed. Each action was comparable to high-level spells. Kaella Rowan was sent flying without even being able to scream. If not for the black mist that instantly covered her body, she would have been crushed without leaving a trace.

 

“You’ve created a Mana Core.”

 

After briefly glaring at Shtidy, he spoke.

 

“Mana and magical power. You’ve utilized those two energies in place of divinity. Even if it doesn’t have the effectiveness you desired, this much would be sufficient by your calculations.”

 

I could feel it.

 

Endless mana rushing toward Shtidy from somewhere was colliding with the Mana Core formed in his heart.

 

“Do you know? You won’t be able to live long like that. Are you burning your life to resolve a moment’s anger?”

 

It wasn’t just distorting space. With even the slightest mistake, it would distort Shtidy’s body, his heart. It was a situation where he could die at any moment.

 

However, Shtidy ignored the words and swung his hand toward Kaela Rowan once more. With a pained groan, Kaella bounced around here and there before falling at my feet.

 

The Heroes’ swords, which had been swinging without rest, paused for a moment.

 

“Get up.”

 

Kaella stirred and rose from her position. Her complexion was poor, like someone who could die at any moment.

 

“I told you not to make noise. A subordinate who can’t understand words is useless. Hand that over to me and step back.”

 

The staff came into my hand. The jewel at the tip of the staff resonated with my heart.

 

Was this what the Demon Lord had been waiting for?

 

This is destruction.

 

I didn’t want this kind of future. A future where the entire continent suffers damage close to annihilation, where those I know are in agony.

 

Johnny’s question came to mind.

 

What is my purpose? What do I intend to do by surviving?

 

What came to mind were memories with Master. Memories of staying with the married couple Mike and Amy. Memories of chatting with Miril at the trading company. Memories of helping people with Albeng, and memories of teasing Shtidy together with Telon at the Magic Tower.

 

In other words, they were happy memories.

 

I wished for happiness. Not unstable time that could shatter at any moment, but happiness enjoyed in peacefully continuing time.

 

Why is the Demon Lord showing me such things? What is he trying to do by showing me such illusions?

 

“You’re mistaken.”

 

Is he saying this is a predetermined future, demanding a new deal? Perhaps he desires submission. He’ll try to bewitch me, saying he’ll help me avoid this future.

 

“This isn’t an illusion.”

 

My thoughts stopped.

 

“This battlefield, this death. Quite a lot of time has passed since stopping the meteor. We’ve gathered to subjugate the Demon Lord. Didn’t you expect this?”

 

“What are you trying to say!”

 

Johnny rushed forward and shouted.

 

However, my head creaked and couldn’t continue proper thoughts.

 

It wasn’t an illusion? If all of this is real, then what exactly should I do?

 

No. I mustn’t believe it. Don’t believe it. These are the Demon Lord’s words. I mustn’t trust demons.

 

“Have I ever told you lies?”

 

The Demon Lord always deceived me.

 

“Really?”

 

Speaking as if it would help me, he brought disaster upon me. He shattered the peace I barely found and led those around me to ruin.

 

“I made a contract. That I wouldn’t tell you lies.”

 

I couldn’t believe it.

 

I mustn’t trust demons. Even though we contracted with souls at stake, he escaped the contract’s influence through his own power.

 

“I made a vow. That I wouldn’t allow you death.”

 

It was time painful enough to die. Both mentally and physically.

 

“I said I would make you the greatest mage.”

 

The Deception the Demon Lord taught me was his Divine Authority. Magic that could be applied to all magic depending on how it was used, magic that could become anything.

 

Right.

 

At this point, I had no choice but to acknowledge it.

 

But I didn’t want to acknowledge it.

 

Perhaps I simply want to blame the Demon Lord. Perhaps I want to place the responsibility for my pain, for what I’ve experienced, on him.

 

The Demon Lord mostly told me the truth. But didn’t he say he would make me his Hero?

 

The Trial was cut short midway. Johnny inherited it, grasped the Holy Sword, and became the Hero. And I became the Demon Lord.

 

What kind of Hero is this?

 

“That is…”

 

The Demon Lord hesitated for a moment.

 

If this were reality, the Demon Lord couldn’t defeat those heroes. That was fate. A law enforced by the world itself.

 

Was he trying to sacrifice me instead, since I had the same soul form as him?

 

“….”

 

He closed his mouth.

 

I realized instinctively. This was the only opportunity.

 

A bit of the Ice Spirit’s divinity flowed into the magic circle I had barely managed to draw in my mind.

 

Through endlessly exchanging magic with the Demon Lord all this time, I had realized something.

 

I still couldn’t surpass the Demon Lord with deception. It would be impossible even if a lifetime passed. Because it was his divine authority.

 

Then what about magic other than deception?

 

Soul magic. Specifically, the second type. Necromantic arts. I would summon my own soul into the body the Demon Lord controlled.

 

Perhaps this might be the worst choice.

 

I was facing the Hero and the previous Hero, the master of the Black Tower was behind me, and the Archmage who had defeated even her was glaring at me.

 

But if not now, then never.

 

If things flowed according to the Demon Lord’s intentions, I would lose something again.

 

The completed magic circle shone.

 

“Will you be alright?”

 

Starting from my fingertips, my body gradually began to follow my control.

 

“Like I said, this isn’t an illusion.”

 

My arms, my legs. My mana too.

 

“It can’t be undone.”

 

The Demon Lord said that as his final words.

 

“I know.”

 

Feeling all control return to me, I raised both hands above my head.

 

“…I surrender.”

 

“Surrender?”

 

Johnny looked at me with a confused expression. The Emperor frowned. Shtidy walked over roughly.

 

Tens of thousands had died. I would be branded as the culprit and suffer terrible consequences.

 

It wasn’t that I intended to atone. I simply thought there might be a way to eliminate only the Demon Lord’s soul in the process.

 

The possibility was high. The continent’s technology was advanced enough to artificially create heroes. As long as Johnny didn’t immediately thrust his holy sword into my chest, it was entirely possible.

 

-He’s come.

 

I was waiting obediently to be bound.

 

-My disloyal servant is a bit late.

 

The ground trembled.

 

“What is this…?”

 

The crack created by the dragon’s breath gradually widened. The continent was splitting apart. Soldiers lost their balance and fell. Some even fell through the gaps.

 

A tremendous torrent of water erupted.

 

-In this place, all six divinities have gathered.

 

Intense hostility rose again on Johnny’s face as he looked at me with confusion. Did he think I had caused all of this?

 

In that state, he would never accept something like surrender.

 

-Yes, Jude. My chosen hero. My master.

 

Perhaps this too was the influence of that damned fate. Because the Hero must inevitably defeat the Demon Lord.

 

-Let us both strive to fulfill our contract.

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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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