I Picked up the Demon King - Chapter 22

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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 22

 

Why hadn’t I discovered it all this time?

 

The reason was simple. The staircase had been hidden from the beginning.

 

Even within the vast Trading Company, this was a place where people’s footsteps rarely reached. Beyond a small gap in what had been blocked off by a wall, I could see a staircase hidden in darkness.

 

-A secret room, eh. It was quite fashionable among wealthy merchants and nobles. It could be used as a shelter in emergencies.

 

It was a method I hadn’t seen in Belive Territory. Perhaps a merchant in the Kingdom Capital was wealthier than a provincial lord.

 

-Though it loses its meaning the moment it’s exposed like this.

 

The Demon Lord spoke mockingly, but I didn’t agree. While it seemed the existence had been revealed due to the user’s carelessness, it was in a position I couldn’t have discovered without the Demon Lord telling me.

 

Now that most of the staff had left work, it would never have been revealed under normal circumstances.

 

-Go inside. The woman you’re looking for will be in there.

 

The Demon Lord whispered with a stifled laugh.

 

As if entranced, I descended the staircase following the intermittent light. After walking a bit, I could see a closed door.

 

‘Deception.’

 

I concealed my appearance with magic and quietly opened the door. Ignoring the blinding heat and light, I quickly stepped inside.

 

-There she is.

 

Miril was inside. But I could easily guess that what the Demon Lord was referring to wasn’t her.

 

The interior was hot to the point of being scorching. On one side, a massive furnace that was obviously the cause was spewing out heat. But the inside of that furnace seemed as if the flames didn’t dare invade it.

 

‘That’s the Eternal Ice?’

 

A small, transparent crystal that looked like a piece of glass.

 

The man in front of the furnace seemed to have his soul captivated by its beauty.

 

“The Trading Company has been incredibly busy lately. Just this week, I wonder how many new people were hired? Dad would be amazed if he heard, right?”

“….”

 

Miril was chattering toward the man’s back beside him.

 

“Today, you know, the Royal Palace directly requested a deal. It’s not an exclusive contract for our Trading Company, but still, our workload increased tremendously at once. It really made me think the Royal Palace is the Royal Palace.”

“….”

“You should see how much of a fuss my brother is making about how hard it is. The other staff probably don’t know, right? Dad hasn’t seen it either, has he?”

 

Her voice was bright, but somehow it only sounded pitiful.

 

“Dad… Dad, can’t you stop looking at that thing and come back now? Like before…”

“Miril.”

 

The man who had shown no intention of moving like a doll opened his mouth. His voice was cracked and hoarse from not speaking for so long, yet filled with firmness.

 

“Yes, Dad!”

“Didn’t I tell you.”

 

Miril brightened, but the man’s response was cold.

 

“If this reveals its true value, such things don’t matter at all.”

“What do you mean…!”

“A deal with the Royal Palace? This is an object that couldn’t be exchanged even if you gave an entire country. Don’t interfere. You’re noisy.”

 

The man, the Trading Company Owner, said this and pushed a stone placed beside him into the furnace.

 

The stone that touched the fire blazed fiercely. It seemed to be specially treated with magic or made of such material.

 

-So he recognized the Eternal Ice. He seems to be quite perceptive for a human.

 

The Demon Lord spoke as if slightly impressed, but his voice was full of mockery.

 

-But burning a few Flame Stones won’t break the magic I’ve cast. His head is terrible compared to his perception.

 

I sighed and moved toward the furnace.

 

Now that I’d found the Eternal Ice, there was no need to waste time at the Trading Company. If I quickly took it and escaped from here…

 

-Wait.

 

The Demon Lord’s voice stopped my steps.

 

-That won’t do. These are the ones who dared to covet the Demon Realm’s treasure. They should rightfully pay the price.

 

His words weren’t incomprehensible.

 

But how? Did he mean I should kill them right now? Perhaps he meant I should massacre the entire Trading Company.

 

It was something I didn’t feel like doing. I had no intention of obediently following just because the Demon Lord ordered it.

 

-No. That would be a poor strategy.

‘A poor strategy?’

 

However, unexpectedly, the Demon Lord denied that thought.

 

Given his personality, I thought he would surely urge me to kill them all.

 

-A wise person doesn’t let immediate emotions cause them to miss what they could gain.

‘Then?’

-A little patience. It’s a virtue that adds wisdom to the foolish.

 

Wisdom.

 

-Wait. I’ll show you something interesting.

 

As I was pondering the unexpected word choice, Miril began to move.

 

“Fine. I don’t want to talk to dad anymore. I’m leaving.”

“Alright.”

“….”

 

She hesitated briefly at his answer without hesitation, then started walking again.

 

-…What are you doing?

‘You told me to wait?’

-…Dodge. She’s going to bump into you.

 

After avoiding Miril’s body approaching head-on, I followed her out of the room.

 

* * *

 

“Where were you? I’ve been looking for you for a while.”

“…Jude?”

“You don’t look well. Did something happen? You seem to be sweating too.”

 

A little later. When I approached Miril, who was sitting listlessly at the counter, and asked with concern, she answered with a smile.

 

“I had a bad dream. I dozed off for a moment.”

“Here? You weren’t here earlier.”

“…In the, the night duty room. I came out to get some fresh air now. But why were you looking for me?”

 

I could see her obviously changing the subject, but I didn’t show it and handed her the documents in my hand.

 

“This, the Deputy Manager asked me to deliver it to you.”

“Ah…. Thank you.”

 

Miril took the documents and briefly looked over the contents, then grimaced slightly and let out a sigh.

 

“What’s wrong?”

“…It’s nothing.”

 

Actually, I knew the reason.

 

That was a kind of report. A report that Dahan compiled of today’s important matters to submit to her father, the Trading Company Owner.

 

From her perspective, having just come up after arguing with the Trading Company Owner, it would be quite an awkward document.

 

“Phew…. Jude, what are you doing after work today?”

“I don’t have anything particular to do, why?”

“Want to have a beer together? I know a good place.”

 

I wasn’t sure, but she seemed to be in the mood for alcohol. I’d heard there are people like that sometimes. But Miril, who still looked young, talking about alcohol.

 

“…Alcohol?”

 

Perhaps sensing the meaning in my expression and tone, Miril bristled and answered.

 

“Why? I’m an adult, you know?”

“Really? How old are you….”

“Twenty years old.”

 

I thought she was at most in her mid to late teens, but she looked quite young for her age.

 

“…Then you’re my older sister.”

“…What?”

 

Since I’m fifteen this year, she’s five years older than me.

 

“W-wait. What did you just say? You called me older sister? Then how old are you exactly….”

 

Come to think of it, we didn’t talk about age during the interview either. It’s natural that she wouldn’t know.

 

“Let’s drink later.”

 

Without answering her question, I went outside.

 

“Hey, where are you going! Tell me how old you are before you go…!”

 

I could hear Miril’s flustered voice behind me. It was fortunate that her bad mood seemed to have improved a little.

 

“So, what’s this interesting thing you said you’d show me?”

-Wouldn’t it be less fun if I told you in advance?

 

My brow naturally furrowed at his nonchalant answer.

 

The Demon Lord cannot lie to me. Therefore, his words about showing me something interesting must be sincere.

 

But that’s exactly why I felt uneasy.

 

His perception and mine, as a demon, are bound to be different. Judging from past events, the things he finds interesting usually don’t turn out well for me.

 

-First, go to Simone. We need to let her know that we found the Eternal Ice.

“If this disadvantages me in any way….”

-It won’t. I swear on my soul. If my prediction is correct, it will actually be tremendously beneficial.

“Phew….”

 

When he goes that far, I have no choice.

 

However, with a thread of doubt still unresolved, I went to find Simone.

 

When I opened the door of the Black Moon Trading Company, Simone, who had been holding something and smiling contentedly, jumped up from his seat in surprise.

 

“Wh-what? The wind?”

“Oh, Master…! To come two days in a row. I, Simone, cannot contain my emotion!”

 

When I released the Deception Magic and revealed myself, Simone approached with a bright smile. He suddenly stopped and hid the paper he was holding behind his back.

 

“What is it?”

“What?”

“…Th, this is.”

Breaking out in a cold sweat while avoiding eye contact.

Given his nature of absolute obedience to the Demon King, it was obvious he would immediately tell me if I asked him to show me what it was.

‘…?’

-Just let it go.

-I’m saying this for your own good. I mean it.

“B-but what brings you all the way here…?”

 

For some reason, I felt like people were watching me more than usual today, but it probably wasn’t anything important.

 

“It’s nothing much. I just came to let you know that I found the Eternal Ice.”

For some reason, I felt like people were watching me more closely than usual today, but it’s probably nothing important.

“It’s nothing special. I just came to let you know that I found the Eternal Ice.”

“As expected! I knew you would accomplish it right away, Master!”

“…That’s only natural.”

 

Even while answering, I couldn’t help but be bothered by the paper placed on the desk.

 

-Didn’t I say it would be better not to pay attention to it?

 

The Demon Lord’s advice came a step too late.

 

My eyesight, enhanced by passing through the first trial, accurately captured the paper placed on the desk.

 

It was a drawing. Though drawn with clumsy skill, anyone could recognize…

 

“Me…?”

It was a drawing. Crudely drawn, but recognizable to anyone….

“Me…?”

“Th-that is…!”

It means that just moments ago, that bastard was alone in a dark room, grinning to himself while looking at a picture he drew of me.

“Military Spirit.”

 

At my call, the Military Spirit rose from the floor.

 

-Kiii?

“Military order.”

As soon as he called out, military orders surged up from the ground.

-Huh?

“Th-that’s… a military command spirit? Such a rare thing that’s hard to find even in the demon realm…! As expected of Master!”

He issued commands without hesitation toward the military order that twisted its head while making eerie sounds as always.

“Tear it up. Don’t leave a trace.”

A military spirit may appear as one, but it’s actually the souls of thousands merged together.

The paper in his hand was instantly torn into thousands of pieces and disappeared.

“Ah, no…! My masterpiece…!”

‘…Yeah.’

How much time had passed?

When he came to his senses, he saw Gunryeong standing before him holding powdered paper, and Simone crying out in anguish with tears streaming down her face.

“…Yes.”

 

Simone answered with a choked voice. His shoulders were still shaking, as if he hadn’t stopped crying yet.

 

“Something interesting will happen soon. When that time comes, focus on your original role again.”

“Listen, Simone.”

“…Yes.”

Simone answered in a choked voice. Her shoulders were still shaking, as if she hadn’t stopped crying yet.

“Something interesting is about to happen. Wait for that moment, and focus on your original role again.”

In an instant, Simone’s movement stopped.

The moment when one begins to question an obvious abnormal reaction.

“Ah, I understand. My master.”

There was definitely a smile on his lips as he answered.

A smile completely different from any I had seen before.

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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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