I Picked up the Demon King - Chapter 20

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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 20

 

“So, the mage’s name is…”

“Jude.”

 

Jude answered quickly. Dahan looked at him with a curious expression.

 

A face that still retained traces of youth. He looked much younger than what Dahan had initially thought when he first heard from the staff.

 

“What’s your reason for applying to our trading company?”

“I’ve reached my limits with magic.”

 

Dahan nodded at the expected answer.

 

Magic was a field where talent was most important.

 

Even if one had the intellectual ability to understand formulas, if Mana Affinity was lacking, advancing to higher levels would be a distant dream.

 

Moreover, magical research also required enormous research funds. Those with talent could find sponsors to secure funding, but most couldn’t.

 

Therefore, a considerable number of mages would give up halfway and look for other work.

 

It was the same when Dahan was at the Academy.

 

If a hundred students enrolled in the Magic Department, only one or two would graduate.

 

Most would either drop out midway or transfer to the Humanities Department. And they would settle in comfortably as if lining up for top rankings.

 

‘When I asked how they adapted so quickly, they said it was easy compared to calculating Magic Formulas…’

 

The only departments where they couldn’t claim the top spot were the Knight Department, which required physical training, and the Business Department that Dahan belonged to.

 

In other words, if an applicant was a mage, no matter how low their level, they could certainly be considered high-quality personnel.

 

“May I ask what spells you can use?”

“Lowest-Grade Atmospheric Manipulation Magic, but is that important?”

“No. Just curiosity.”

 

Dahan nodded satisfactorily as he answered. He wasn’t satisfied with the mage Jude’s skill level.

 

Mages were originally famous for having eccentric personalities, but he showed no signs of being particularly offended by questions that might be a complex for him.

 

“Jude… sir. Would it be alright if I speak casually?”

“It doesn’t matter. You’ll be my employer.”

 

At his readily nodding appearance, Dahan let out a small sigh.

 

‘He doesn’t seem like the type to cause problems during work. …His skills are decent enough too.’

 

An answer sheet full of correct answers. The problems he had prepared weren’t difficult.

 

A level that anyone could solve if they had basic calculation ability and logical thinking. If he actually worked at the trading company, he would have to pay attention to much more and do complex calculations.

 

However, it was a different story if he solved this many problems in such a short time of less than a minute.

 

‘Is he the type lacking in Mana Affinity?’

 

While unfortunate for the man, it was fortunate from the perspective of managing the trading company.

 

If he could find Spirit Medicine that could increase Mana Affinity later, he might be able to bestow great favor. Though expensive, there was nothing the Golden Star Trading Company couldn’t obtain now.

 

‘Of course, that would be after working together and sufficiently confirming what kind of trustworthy person he is…’

 

Dahan, having organized his thoughts, smiled and asked.

 

“When can you start work?”

 

* * *

 

With the demon’s help, I succeeded in getting employed instantly. And at a large trading company I never could have imagined before.

 

-…What are you thinking? These are audacious creatures who dared to steal Demon Realm Treasure. Even burning them down immediately wouldn’t be enough, so you’re not feeling any sense of belonging, are you?

‘No, even if you say that.’

 

Though slightly regrettable, it wasn’t mine to begin with, so it doesn’t really affect me much.

 

‘And if you want to burn this place down, teach me the magic to do so.’

 

The Demon Lord snorted and avoided answering. I forcibly suppressed the natural furrowing of my brow.

 

So far, the Demon Lord had taught me two types of magic.

 

Soul Magic that elevates the soul’s rank by absorbing the souls of the dead, and Deception Magic that can perfectly conceal appearance and presence.

 

Since Spirit Command Magic that handles Military Spirit is an advanced stage of Soul Magic, essentially the magic I learned over the past few weeks amounts to just these two.

 

Considering the purpose of becoming a Hero and defeating the Goddess, this was difficult to understand.

 

Wouldn’t it be normal to teach hundreds or thousands of spells and make me grow stronger through all kinds of Evil Sorcery?

 

“Did your conversation end well? So, will you work here?”

 

My thoughts were interrupted by a voice I heard at that moment.

 

The girl’s name was Miril. From how she kept talking to me since I was checking the job posting, she seemed to have good social skills.

 

“Yes, well…”

“I knew it! My eye for people wasn’t wrong. So, when do you start work? Next week? How much is the salary… Oh, is this kind of question a bit rude?”

 

It didn’t feel particularly rude, but it didn’t seem necessary to answer.

 

I’d be leaving here before receiving my salary anyway, so would it matter how much I’d get?

 

“I’m supposed to start work tomorrow.”

“That soon? Are you okay with that?”

“I don’t have anything else to do anyway.”

 

Unless the Demon Lord taught me some other magic, there wasn’t anything particular to do even if I went back. It would be much better to quickly find the Eternal Ice instead.

 

“Then shall I give you a tour?”

“A tour?”

“This place is quite large despite how it looks, so first-time visitors tend to get lost quite a bit.”

 

It was a building large enough to rival the Lord’s Inner Castle, so that was only natural.

 

This would be the place I’d be searching for the next few days to find the Eternal Ice, so if an insider could give me a preview, there was no need to decline.

 

“I’d appreciate that.”

“Yes, just leave it to me!”

 

The girl, Miril, said that and walked out confidently.

 

“This is… the bathroom! It’s big, right?”

“It is indeed.”

“This is… well, the break room! It’s good for taking short naps when you’re tired. There are snacks over there too.”

“I see.”

“This is the night duty room. It’s for staff who work overtime.”

 

The facilities were really clean, as if newly built. However, there was one being who wasn’t satisfied with the current situation.

 

-To enjoy such luxury by plundering Demon Realm treasure. Even burning in hell for a lifetime wouldn’t be enough for these bastards.

 

No, more precisely, it should be called one soul. It was the Demon Lord. He seemed quite displeased about what happened to Simone and kept grumbling continuously.

 

While suppressing laughter that was about to burst out and walking around inside the trading company, I encountered many people.

 

“Oh, Miril. Good morning.”

“Hello!”

 

Those who smiled brightly, those who seemed tired, those who frowned deeply as if things weren’t going well. They all greeted Miril warmly when they saw her.

 

It was a strange sight to simply attribute to good social skills. However, that wasn’t what was important.

 

‘Can you sense anything?’

 

The purpose wasn’t sightseeing inside the trading company, but retrieving the item stolen from Simone.

 

-Hmm. I don’t sense anything immediately. Is it because they’ve cast too strong a magic on it?

 

But it seemed the Demon Lord couldn’t sense anything either.

 

I thought this was completely useless, but if I brought it up for no reason, I’d obviously just get lectured that it was my fault.

 

-However, there are places I can guess.

‘Hm?’

-No matter how much they’ve blocked its power with magic, the Eternal Ice is one of the world’s most precious treasures. If they could recognize even a speck of its value, they wouldn’t put it in a bathroom or break room.

 

The Demon Lord was right.

 

They must have stolen it because they noticed it was valuable in the first place. They certainly wouldn’t have put it somewhere anyone could easily access.

 

‘Then…’

 

Probably the warehouse where the trading company’s treasures were stored. Or perhaps the Trading Company Owner’s office.

 

While organizing my thoughts and following behind Miril.

 

“This is…”

“…Hm?”

“…the bathroom! It’s big, right?”

 

Miril said with an awkward smile.

 

Since the trading company was quite large, there could be multiple bathrooms. However, the bathroom we’d arrived at looked exactly the same as the one we’d visited first, no matter how I looked at it.

 

“…Yes, it’s nice.”

-Hmm. Don’t tell me…

 

The Demon Lord muttered in a half-doubting voice. However, the Demon Lord’s suspicion soon became certainty.

 

“This is, uh, well…”

“The break room.”

“…Yes. That’s right, the break room.”

 

The guide had gotten lost.

 

“…”

“…”

“You don’t know the way well?”

“…No.”

 

What kind of confidence did this woman have when she offered to guide me?

 

“Hehe, well… I haven’t been here very long.”

“I see.”

“I only go to the same places every time…”

 

Miril probably hadn’t been with the trading company for very long either. In that case, I could understand.

 

“That’s enough. Let’s go back.”

“Huh?”

“I’ve grasped the general layout. We can look around the rest next time.”

 

I hadn’t been able to confirm where they kept their valuables, but this was sufficient for now.

 

“Wait. Won’t we get lost if we’re not careful? Oh, we won’t?”

“I told you. I’ve grasped the general layout.”

 

As I worked going forward, there would surely be opportunities to naturally move around inside the trading company. I should be able to find the Eternal Ice within a week at the latest.

 

-Wait.

 

Just as I was about to leave the trading company, the Demon Lord’s voice stopped me in my tracks.

 

‘What is it?’

-For a moment, I sensed the Eternal Ice. No, it would be more accurate to say I sensed the magical energy I had placed on it.

 

Perhaps because the Demon Lord’s soul was much more sensitive. Surely the Demon Lord shared the same senses as me, but I felt nothing at all.

 

‘Where?’

-I don’t know.

‘What?’

-It disappeared before I could pinpoint the location. That’s all…

 

He was probably going to say my skills were pathetic. I clicked my tongue and ignored the Demon Lord’s voice.

 

“What’s wrong? Did you forget something?”

“No. I just had something to think about.”

 

I smiled and answered Miril, who was looking at me with curiosity, then waved and went outside.

 

-You seem quite amused.

“I seem amused?”

 

There wasn’t really anything amusing though.

 

-I’m saying that because your mood seems more relaxed than before. Were you that happy about getting a job? Or perhaps, being a male, did you fall for that female?

 

The Demon Lord’s words made me laugh involuntarily. Probably the Demon Lord himself wasn’t being serious either.

 

“As if.”

 

I brushed it off casually and headed toward the inn, when Simone’s ruined face that I’d seen before coming to the trading company came to mind.

 

“Just in case, should I go tell Simone before leaving?”

 

Since he was the Demon Lord’s subordinate, didn’t I need to explain the current situation to him?

 

-No.

“Why?”

-If someone sees you, they’ll suspect you’re a spy. Since it wouldn’t even be a misunderstanding, wouldn’t it be better to avoid such situations if possible?

 

The Demon Lord’s warnings often left me speechless.

 

True enough. The fact that Simone held a grudge against the Golden Star Trading Company was probably known by anyone in the Royal Capital worth knowing. Being caught wouldn’t be good.

 

Thinking of the expression and voice he had shown before leaving the Black Star Trading Company, it was secretly welcome news.

 

-Still, we can’t avoid seeing him completely. Even if he’s unreliable, he’s also a member of the Demon Realm. He won’t be completely useless.

“Ah, mm. Right.”

-Let’s postpone seeing him again for later.

 

It was a bit unfortunate for Simone, but it seemed I wouldn’t be seeing his face today.

 

-To think you couldn’t even consider such a simple thing. You really have gotten relaxed.

“Have I…?”

-Yes.

 

The Demon Lord stated firmly.

 

-Get your head straight. You think you’ll have leisure for a while, but you never know when the next trial will come.

“I know.”

 

I almost fell for the Demon Lord’s words for a moment, but then I was certain.

 

My guard would never be down.

 

I still hadn’t forgotten what happened in Belive Territory.

 

Or what happened before that.

 

“But if being seen by others was the problem, couldn’t I just hide my appearance with Deception Magic?”

-…Ahem.

 

I was momentarily puzzled but then understood. Perhaps the Demon Lord also found Simone burdensome.

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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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