I Picked up the Demon King - Chapter 163

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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 163

It’s safe to say that all the preparatory procedures for defeating the Goddess are now complete.

There were many, so many of them.

The fact that I was able to complete all those processes safely was thanks to the Goddess’s confidence.

No, should I call it arrogance?

The confidence that she could easily block whatever methods I used, whatever preparations I made. The certainty that she could thoroughly crush all the arrangements the Demon Lord had prepared.

Whether that becomes confidence or arrogance… depends on me.

The Goddess’s confidence had its reasons.

-Insignificant.

The sword I swung doesn’t hit.

It’s impossible to perceive the Goddess’s movements. No, did she even move? She simply disappeared and appeared.

-Young god. I waited for you until all your preparations were complete. I waited for you until you adapted to all the arrangements.

This time she didn’t disappear.

I strengthened my body with divinity and barely reached the Goddess. I swung the Holy Sword toward her with all my might.

-But look.

The Goddess simply raised her hand and blocked it.

As if hitting a wall, the sword didn’t move. How ridiculous. The power contained in the Holy Sword was strong enough to completely annihilate even the hardest wall in the world.

The Goddess brushed away the hand that blocked the sword, as if shooing away an insect.

-Insignificant, so insignificant. Your power amounts to only this much. That hideous sword cannot pierce my skin, and your life hangs in danger with a single gesture.

How far was I flung? It was a distance far enough to damage the Hero’s robust body.

I regenerate my collapsing body.

The regenerated body was stronger than before, but it didn’t seem like it could withstand that gesture from just now.

-How insignificant. How much more careless must I be, how much longer must I wait?

Simply put, we’re in different weight classes.

The divinity I’ve gathered each contains tremendous power.

However, even the cold energy that freezes time itself couldn’t stop the Goddess’s movements.

Infinite life force was meaningless to the Goddess who had already transcended the physical body.

The Goddess possessed divinity greater than limitless mana.

She had eyes that could see through even darkness that swallows all light.

Hellfire couldn’t even burn the hem of her garment, and she calmed rough waves with a single gesture.

I was confident I could win, but I couldn’t see a way to victory.

Of course, the Goddess can’t defeat me either.

“The Hero achieves victory over the Demon Lord.”

A law directly inscribed by the Goddess. As long as I don’t give up being the master of the Demon Realm and choose to protect my own authority, that law must be upheld.

Since this ritual has already begun, my victory is assured. My defeat cannot exist.

-Do you think so?

The Goddess sneered.

-For the Hero to defeat the Demon Lord, the world supplements any lacking power.

Fate swirled around me as the center, and the world was still transforming into particles of light and being absorbed into me.

My power amplifies in real time. I keep surpassing points I thought were my limits.

However, I’m blocked.

-Even if everything that makes up this world melts away to nothing, do you think your sword will reach me?

The thought that it wouldn’t reach occurred to me.

Crazy Goddess. Crazy Demon Lord.

The Demon Lord clearly said that she who forcibly inscribed laws into the world, gave birth to the Hero, and directly descended to the Middle Realm was in a weakened state. That she couldn’t avoid the effects of excessive interference with causality. That the Goddess was excellent, but neither omnipotent nor omniscient.

You’re telling me that’s her weakened state?

How exactly was I supposed to deal with something like that when he threw it at me and left? Did his judgment get shattered along with his soul?

‘Though it would be stranger if he were fine…!’

The Goddess thoroughly toyed with me.

She sent me flying to the other side of the continent with a lightly swung gesture, pressed me down with one finger so I couldn’t get up, and sat on my fallen body to take a rest.

Each time, the world decomposes. It gives me power to oppose the Goddess.

However, each time, the Goddess also increased her power accordingly. I cannot even guess how much power she has hidden away.

Surely my preparations were perfect.

I had done everything I could, and achieved things I never even thought possible.

But what can I do when it still doesn’t work?

When the Goddess invaded the Demon Lord’s world, it wasn’t for nothing that she used him. She could have broken through with force if she wanted, but she was wary of suffering losses by interfering with causality.

Yes. As I had often heard, the Goddess was the most excellent farmer.

She calculated thoroughly and chose methods that wouldn’t result in losses. In a way, it could be said to align with a merchant’s approach.

But if that’s the case, this is strange. If the fight continues like this, it will be a loss for the Goddess too.

“She must know that…!”

I finally became the master of the Demon Realm, but not only the Demon Realm, but even the Middle Realm and Heavenly Realm are disappearing. If this is how it would be, wouldn’t there be no reason to decide to maintain the throne?

-Do you not know.

The Goddess giggled.

-What constitutes gain and what constitutes loss. Do you think it is limited to material things?

The Goddess’s will was conveyed to me.

-A small satisfaction.

A king’s laughter may be more precious than the lives of a hundred subjects.

-Even for that alone, I can gladly discard this wretched world.

That is why she is a god.

The Goddess had made her decision. For the sake of one small satisfaction of hers, she would consume the entire world.

Her refusal to give up the position of master of the Demon Realm was also for that reason. She could abandon it anytime if she wanted, but her pride wouldn’t allow giving it up due to someone else’s will.

Even if this world disappears, that is not losing it. It is discarding it.

What an arrogant thought this is. Truly a mad thought, and precisely because of that, it even feels sacred.

Less than half the world now remained.

The clusters of light that had been seeping into my body now felt as if they were wrapping around my body, making me into a luminous being.

The Goddess rose from her seat.

She had no choice but to rise.

No matter how much of a goddess she was, she couldn’t easily deal with me in this state.

So, the Goddess finally showed her true intentions.

-I declare.

A law is inscribed.

Just as apples are affected by gravity, just as humans die someday. A new law that governs the world is written.

-I am the master of the world, so nothing shall dare look directly at me.

My head was forcibly bowed.

I cannot look at the Goddess. The divinity within my body strongly resisted, but even that is suppressed.

-I declare.

Another law is inscribed.

-I am the master of the world, so all things shall worship me.

My body that I had barely managed to raise is forced to kneel. Kneeling with my head bowed, I was completely worshipping her, and all I could do was not let go of the Holy Sword.

-I declare. I am the master of the world, so…

The Goddess continued to inscribe laws.

The laws binding me piled up layer upon layer, and by that much, the world rapidly decomposed and was absorbed into me.

-So, you are…

Before I knew it, only the Goddess and I remained. A small piece of land where the two of us could stand, a small world. Only a space so small it would be embarrassing to even call it a world remained.

-Mine.

I realized the Goddess’s plan.

Consuming the world and power to this extent is not something even the Goddess can take lightly.

Would she, who by nature hates taking losses, really accept such losses just to satisfy her mood? If she were such a being, the Goddess would not be in the position of goddess now.

The Goddess is extremely emotional, but also extremely rational.

Isn’t she thinking of obtaining something of at least equal value to what she’s consuming, or more?

For example, like a replacement for a lost hunting dog.

-thing.

Deep in my heart, love for the Goddess rises.

The wonder I felt when I first faced the Goddess. Praising her beauty, a desire to live my entire life as her servant rises within me.

For the Goddess’s pleasure, it seemed I could tear my flesh, rip apart my bones, and offer up my heart.

That would become my happiness. This is irresistible….

“…Deception.”

-It doesn’t work.

The Goddess had fallen for my tricks because she wanted to. But the Goddess no longer falls for my schemes. She desires me, but even if I remain still, I will become hers.

At the same moment I came to love the Goddess completely, the world also disappeared completely.

All the laws of the world that bound me vanished.

However, one thing remained: that I belong to the Goddess. That I love her, and that I can do anything for her sake.

The Void of Nothingness.

Soon another world will fill this empty space.

It may take thousands or tens of thousands of years, but it will happen. Whether a new world is born or another world comes rushing in, it will happen.

Then the wretched world that just disappeared will be perfectly erased, with no one left to remember it.

The Goddess and I will invade the newly arrived world and enjoy plundering it. I will offer the finest things to the Goddess. We will do so eternally, until we devour all existing worlds and reach the highest position.

But.

-My beloved master.

I approached the Goddess.

-I dare to wish to embrace you.

-I permit it.

The Goddess smiled willingly and spread her arms. Since I was completely bound to her, she was truly the victor of this battle. The Goddess was fully qualified to enjoy the victor’s joy.

So I approached the Goddess.

One step, one step.

In this nothingness where nothing existed, I embraced her.

And.

I bit into the Goddess.

-Ah, aaaah…!

The Goddess screamed.

-Get away, get away…!

I saw. I remember.

I clearly remember the world of one liar. I remember that ugly world.

I remember the world where the Goddess withdrew the rain, bringing down terrible famine.

Those who had their deaths postponed by the King’s Divine Authority could not endure the hunger and devoured each other. They plundered neighbors and ate their children. Even after entering stomachs, they could not die and eventually became one.

While the false king despaired, the Goddess watched that scene with joy.

The most terrible thing, Soul Magic, was born from cannibalism as its origin. That was the moment when the Goddess stopped plundering new worlds and began harvesting the souls of this world.

The deception I used at the last moment was not directed at the Goddess.

It would be impossible for the Demon Lord. She hates the Goddess more than anyone. But for me, it’s easy. What happened once can happen again. The moment I first saw her, she made me love her.

I could do anything for the Goddess’s joy.

-My love, my master.

For her joy, I will become one with her.

Having absorbed all three worlds, I possess power that even the Goddess would covet. The six Divine Essences and the Demon Lord’s Soul have all been absorbed into me now.

The laws that bound me disappeared along with the world’s disappearance.

The Goddess could not shake me off.

The Goddess screamed. She who had spent her lifetime plundering and devouring other Divine Essences died that way. The Goddess who always put love first died at the hands of one who loved her more than anyone.

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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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