I Picked up the Demon King - Chapter 18

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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 18

 

A cramped room.

An old desk, scattered bundles of documents.

 

Moldy bread and cheese of unknown age, and a mouse eyeing them.

 

The man sitting on the floor irritably grabbed a bundle of documents and threw it, but the mouse successfully escaped with a piece of bread in its mouth.

 

“Damn it.”

 

The man spat out a quiet curse.

 

The man with hair grown to his waist tied back, wearing thick glasses, and pale white skin was Simone Dupe.

 

After graduating with excellent grades from a famous Academy in the Empire, he had rejected countless recruitment offers and returned to his hometown to establish a trading company—a promising individual.

 

Based on massive gold coins invested from somewhere, he had rapidly expanded his business and was considered someone who would become one of the continent’s leading merchants.

 

“Haah…”

 

But his true identity was a subspecies of Doppelganger dispatched to the Middle Realm under the Demon Lord’s orders. He was the only demon remaining in a world where the Demon Realm had been subjugated.

 

Simone let out a powerless sigh and raised his upper body. His eyes looking down at the desk with a completely distorted face showed none of the sharpness of someone once called promising.

 

It wasn’t just his eyes.

 

The narrow room he was in now was old and cramped as if it would collapse at any moment, and the documents piled on the desk only recorded massive debts. It was a scene that didn’t feel at all like the office of someone destined to become a great merchant.

 

“I need to carry out the Demon Lord’s orders.”

 

He suddenly shed tears.

 

Was it because he recalled the Demon Lord’s appearance he had faced before leaving the Demon Realm? That incomparably evil and beautiful voice?

 

The glory of being chosen for the Demon Lord’s plan, having his excellent abilities and racial characteristics recognized, was only brief.

 

The plan to build power in the Middle Realm through the Demon Realm’s precious wealth and treasures had failed miserably.

 

“Things worse than demons…”

 

Just as Simone was grinding his teeth and muttering.

 

Creak.

 

The old door opened and someone entered the room.

 

“Is this the place.”

 

Hastily wiping his face and turning around, what Simone saw was a single man.

 

A robe covering half his face. The pale skin revealed beneath suggested the man wasn’t very old.

 

“Who are you?”

 

Simone frowned and asked at the suspicious appearance. At the same time, cold sweat began flowing down his back.

 

As a demon species specializing in infiltration, his combat ability depended on his host’s capabilities.

 

His current body had virtually no combat ability. It was the result of selecting a commoner student with no connections for the mission.

 

Thanks to this, he had been able to blend in among humans without arousing much suspicion, but if his current opponent had come with ill intentions, he had no proper way to respond.

 

In the heavy silence, while Simone was contemplating escape after feeling the tension.

 

The man pulled back his hood with one hand and spoke.

 

“Simone Dupe.”

 

Disheveled black hair and skin so pale it was beyond white. Simone’s face distorted even more at the face he couldn’t recall no matter how hard he tried.

 

“I asked who you…”

“My faithful servant.”

“….”

 

The face that had been filled with questions was suddenly overwhelmed with shock.

 

Though the somewhat clumsy voice didn’t carry the same dignity as before, Simone quickly prostrated himself and bowed his head.

 

“Ah, aah…”

 

Tears flowed again, but their meaning was different from before.

 

His innate demonic intuition, superior to others, detected the size of a soul so massive it was on a different dimension from humans. Therefore, he could be certain.

 

“Have you come, my lord?”

 

The king he had been desperately waiting for had appeared in this place earlier than scheduled.

 

The man walked past Simone and sat on the desk.

 

“Rise, Simone.”

“How could I…”

“Do you intend to make me say it twice?”

 

Simone quickly rose from his position, unable to suppress his overflowing tears.

 

The posture of crossing his legs and resting his chin on his hand while arrogantly looking down at his opponent was identical to the Demon Lord he had seen before.

 

“Are you curious? How I was resurrected earlier than planned, what this body is.”

 

To his master who asked in a subtle tone, Simone bowed his head and answered.

 

“How could a servant question their master’s affairs.”

 

He must not be fooled by what seemed like considerate words. Fortunately, no one in the Demon Realm was unaware of that master’s personality, and Simone was also a proud member of the Demon Realm.

 

As expected, the Demon Lord seemed pleased with Simone’s reaction and smiled with satisfaction. That the smile felt somewhat awkward was surely because he wasn’t yet accustomed to his new body.

 

“Good, my servant. However…”

 

Simone’s heart, which had been filled with joy and ecstasy, froze in an instant.

 

Because he could guess what his master would say next.

 

“Surely there was a mission I entrusted to you.”

 

This brief moment felt like an eternity to Simone.

 

“I came here personally to hear the progress report, so tell me. Where are the treasures I entrusted to you? The preparations to awaken the sealed subordinates?”

“Th-that is…”

 

Simone, who had been breaking out in cold sweat, prostrated himself again and cried out.

 

“Please kill me!”

 

* * *

 

I had merely spoken as the Demon Lord instructed, yet here was a person who looked at least ten years older than me, prostrating and shedding tears.

 

It was something I had never experienced once in my life, so honestly, I was utterly bewildered.

 

There was even a smell like spoiled cheese coming from somewhere, making the entire space unpleasant. Even though I was accustomed to such unsanitary environments, I was filled with the desire to escape quickly.

 

-This is troublesome.

‘What is?’

-Look at that fellow’s reaction. I didn’t expect things to be perfect from the start, but this seems to be more than just ordinarily messed up. Hmm…

 

It was amusing to see the Demon Lord, who usually only showed a leisurely demeanor, rarely looking troubled. But if I couldn’t obtain the treasures the Demon Lord had hidden, it would be troublesome for me as well.

 

– Ask if the ‘materials’ are safe.

“Are the materials safe?”

“…”

 

Simone, who had stopped moving for a moment, repeatedly banged his head on the floor and cried out.

 

“Due to the schemes of those wicked humans, I have lost everything. I have no excuse. Please kill me!”

-…Sigh. This is truly troublesome.

 

The Demon Lord let out a sigh.

 

The atmosphere was ominous. After saying it was troublesome, the Demon Lord showed no reaction for a while, and the man named Simone looked as if he might take his own life at any moment.

 

Naturally, being caught between them, I couldn’t help but feel suffocated.

 

‘Wh-what are these materials?’

 

Thinking I had to do something, I questioned the Demon Lord, and he clicked his tongue as if displeased and replied.

 

-Dragon Bone and heart, Greater Demon’s Horn, Spirit’s Tears, World Tree Branch… Essence of Hellfire and Eternal Ice, etc.

 

Could it be.

 

-They’re materials for a Holy Sword.

‘…!’

 

I couldn’t help but be shocked by the completely unexpected answer.

 

‘You mean you were planning to create a new Holy Sword?’

-Of course. Did you think you’d inherit and use the Holy Sword that the existing Hero used?

 

I didn’t know much about Holy Swords, but I had heard that the First Hero’s Holy Sword was kept in the Imperial Palace. I had vaguely thought I would use that, but apparently not.

 

-Even though you have resistance to Holy Power, that’s a weapon of a different dimension. If you touched it at your level, your soul would be annihilated on the spot. And.

 

The Demon Lord said with a sneer.

 

-It’s a weapon I should have used. Do you think I’d want to use something that mere humans had used?

‘…’

 

I was speechless at a reason I had never even considered.

 

The Demon Lord probably had a way to use the existing Holy Sword as well. But to think the reason for wanting to create a new one was merely something like that.

 

‘Well, from the Demon Lord’s perspective, it would be the weapon that killed him. It’s natural he wouldn’t want to use it.’

-You… seem to be having rather unpleasant thoughts.

‘No. Then was your preventing me from taking that Mage’s Staff before also because of that?’

 

A Mage’s Staff amplifies the power of magic and also helps with mana recovery – it’s quite a valuable item.

 

The one belonging to the mage we faced in Belive Territory would have been similar. But if you prevented me from taking it just because it was a used item, I couldn’t help but feel quite bad.

 

-If it were something for me to use, that would be the case, but I don’t care what happens with things you use.

‘Then why?’

-Originally, you shouldn’t carelessly touch another mage’s belongings. You never know what magic might be cast on them. It would be fortunate if it were just a light curse or Tracking Magic.

 

The Demon Lord clicked his tongue and spoke as if exasperated.

 

-With my original body, it wouldn’t be any problem at all, but right now I’m sharing senses with you. There are bound to be limitations.

‘You’re not omnipotent either?’

– It’s all because of your inadequacy.

 

What came to mind at the mention of tracking magic was the Holy Knight Order that had persistently pursued me until just before arriving at the capital. Thanks to them, I couldn’t sleep properly or eat properly.

 

And if unknown mages had been added to that…

 

‘Ugh…’

 

Just thinking about it was horrifying. I might not have been able to be here right now.

 

‘But something seems strange?’

-Hmm?

 

What the Demon Lord had mentioned were all precious treasures that could only be heard of in legends. Like the elixir that could revive the dead, they were things that could shake the world with their mere existence.

 

Setting aside entrusting them to a single subordinate, if those things had been released into the world, there was no way rumors wouldn’t spread.

 

-Naturally, I made arrangements so they couldn’t grasp the original value of the materials. It seems that became poison instead.

 

The Demon Lord sighed again and spoke.

 

-It’s getting dangerous now. Tell her to stop.

‘What… Ah.’

 

Simone, who had been banging her head on the floor, wasn’t stopping despite blood flowing profusely.

 

If left alone, it wouldn’t be surprising at all if she collapsed soon.

 

“Stop.”

 

Simone hesitated for a moment, then tried to bang her head on the floor again.

 

“I clearly told you to stop. You keep making me repeat myself.”

“But…”

“Stand up.”

 

Simone’s face when she stood up was wretched. Her forehead was completely torn, and the glasses she wore were also twisted and broken into a mess.

 

“I, I…!”

 

However, Simone opened her mouth without caring about her own appearance.

 

“Not only did I fail to complete the mission, but I caused major disruption to the plan! What value could such an incompetent demon have? I deserve to die!”

 

I felt my body shrink at the voice crying out while shedding blood and tears.

 

-You’re acting surprised. How many humans have died by your hands so far, yet you’re scared by just seeing that?

‘Are those the same thing?’

 

The spirit felt from her face was different. An expression that truly desired death even contained madness. Anyone who saw it couldn’t help but shrink back.

 

-Stop that and just deliver the message. If you leave her like that, she’ll try to bang her head again.

 

Feeling like she really would do that, I took a deep breath and conveyed the Demon Lord’s words.

 

“A subordinate’s mistake also carries the responsibility of their master. If you die like that, what punishment should I receive?”

“Such…!”

“If you made a mistake, you just need to correct it. I won’t allow you to die before that.”

“My lord…”

 

Simone collapsed to the floor and wailed. I was able to let out a small sigh in that gap.

 

After some time had passed, the Demon Lord spoke again.

 

“You know where the items are now, don’t you?”

“They’ve spread throughout the Middle Realm – the Magic Tower, Religious Order, Imperial Palace, and so on. The humans might be gradually realizing their value…”

“What’s the closest one?”

 

Simone declared without the slightest hesitation.

 

“The Eternal Ice.”

-The Eternal Ice is a material corresponding to the Essence of Hellfire. It has the power to emit tremendous cold that can even freeze time. Right now it’s just ice that won’t melt though…

 

Just ice that won’t melt – what an ambiguous feeling.

 

Any mage who has reached a certain level can create ice as much as they want.

 

‘Though I haven’t learned such spells yet…’

 

Therefore, ice that won’t melt is just peculiar ice, and it’s hard to see it as having value beyond a luxury item.

 

-We should recover it for now. Where is the Eternal Ice?

 

Simone sprang up from her seat and walked toward the window.

 

‘That direction is…’

 

A window with not a single ray of light coming through. Beyond it, only a wall was visible.

 

What lay beyond that was naturally the building I had seen just before entering this place.

 

So tall and large that it made Belive Territory’s inner castle look ridiculous…

 

“Golden Star Trading Company.”

 

Simone answered while grinding her teeth.

 

“Those bastards who stole my achievements and plundered the king’s treasures.”

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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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