I Picked up the Demon King - Chapter 29

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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 29

 

Judging by the sun’s position, it was early morning.

 

Normally, this would be the time when the city would gradually come to life with people waking up and starting their day.

 

But the Royal Capital wasn’t like that right now.

 

“Move quickly!”

 

Soldiers shouting and running around, and Knights leading those soldiers.

 

“What’s going on? What’s happening?”

“I’m not sure. Is it related to last night’s commotion? That Dark Mage…”

“They won’t even let anyone through the city gates. It’s chaos.”

 

Citizens poking their heads out with faces already fully awake.

 

I could sense it intuitively. All this commotion was because of yesterday’s events.

 

The soldiers were looking for me. They were clearly searching the entire Royal Capital to deal with the Dark Mage who killed the Religious Order members.

 

I reflexively pulled down the robe I was wearing. I could feel people’s gazes focusing on my suspicious appearance.

 

Normally I would have used Deception to escape the situation, but with my Mana Core damaged, I could barely use even simple magic, so I had no choice.

 

“Hurry up!”

 

The soldiers were gradually getting closer.

 

Could I safely escape from here without magic, Ice Spirit, or the Demon Lord? My body began to tense up accordingly. And then.

 

“Morning prayer time is coming soon. We need to suppress them before they notice!”

“…?”

 

The soldiers passed right by me.

 

Though I hate to admit it, my appearance was suspicious to anyone who looked. If they were searching for a Dark Mage hiding their identity, there’s no way they could just pass me by.

 

I couldn’t understand the situation. I lacked information.

 

I needed to find out what had happened while I was unconscious.

 

‘Simone.’

 

Simone, the Demon Lord’s loyal subordinate, would surely have grasped the current situation.

 

Even though he had an unpleasant personality, this wasn’t the time to be picky about such things. I pulled my robe tight and headed toward the Black Moon Trading Company.

 

“Ah…”

 

There was one thing I hadn’t thought of.

 

Simone’s Black Moon Trading Company was attached right next to the Golden Star Trading Company building.

 

The Religious Order members who had been searching for me couldn’t have just left the Black Moon Trading Company alone.

 

The Black Moon Trading Company was completely collapsed, its original form unrecognizable. All that remained was a signboard with a moon painting on a black background.

 

Of course, the Golden Star Trading Company was in equally miserable condition.

 

“…”

 

The trading company that had been as vast as the Lord’s Castle.

 

Now it was completely burned down, with only blackened bricks visible. If Deputy Manager Dahan hadn’t sent the employees home early, dozens of staff members would have died.

 

What had happened to Dahan and Miril?

 

“Hey, this area is under control right now. Go back!”

 

A soldier’s sharp shout came from somewhere. I didn’t bother resisting and turned around.

 

No matter how unreliable Simone had appeared, he was still a demon. He couldn’t have died so pathetically in a fire.

 

He was probably hiding somewhere, preparing to complete the mission the Demon Lord had given him.

 

I should get away from here first and think of a way to find him…

 

“…Jude?”

 

When I looked up at the familiar voice, the face I had just been thinking about was right in front of me.

 

A man who seemed severely injured, with bandages wrapped around various parts of his body. It was Dahan, the Golden Star Trading Company Deputy Manager.

 

* * *

 

“Please eat. It’s quite good.”

 

Only then did I realize I hadn’t eaten anything since yesterday morning.

 

The bowl in front of me contained quite appetizing-looking food that stimulated my appetite.

 

‘Could there be poison in it…?’

 

Even though I knew it wasn’t true, I couldn’t help but have such doubts.

 

While I wasn’t the one who burned down the trading company, if it hadn’t been for me, the trading company wouldn’t have been destroyed.

 

From his perspective, he couldn’t help but resent me.

 

Yet he brought me to such an expensive-looking restaurant and treated me to a meal.

 

“I’m glad you look safe. I was very worried.”

“…About me?”

“Yes. The person the Religious Order was looking for was you, Jude.”

 

How could someone who knew that act this way?

 

Without letting go of my suspicion, I quietly picked up a spoon and ate the food.

 

I asked Dahan, who had just started picking up his spoon.

 

“How is the situation with the trading company?”

“Not good. My father… I mean, the Trading Company Owner has gone missing, and the building and documents were lost. Considering the financial losses from this incident…”

 

Dahan shook his head while holding his head as if he had a headache.

 

“Fortunately, there weren’t many casualties. It’s all thanks to work ending early yesterday. Should I say this is also thanks to you, Jude?”

 

Then he even smiled slightly.

 

They say people lose their minds when they receive a great shock, so perhaps Dahan was in that state right now.

 

“Are you really okay?”

“It’s not the worst. We can find another building. The ledgers are the problem, but this morning the Royal Palace contacted us saying they’d help.”

“…The Royal Palace?”

 

The Royal Palace helping a trading company that had a Dark Mage infiltrating it. I couldn’t understand the situation at all.

 

“Yes. They said they plan to publicize the evil acts committed by the Religious Order and actively provide relief to those who suffered damage. Our trading company is one of them. Thanks to that, we could hear the news a bit early.”

“What do you mean…”

“Do you know about Belive Territory? It’s a small city in the Southern Kingdom, where the Lord and the Religious Order joined hands to frame innocent Territory Residents as servants of demons and execute them.”

 

Belive Territory. The place where I experienced my first trial before coming to the Royal Capital. It was a story I never expected to hear from Dahan’s mouth.

 

“Fortunately, some brave person stopped them and rescued those who were imprisoned… People call him the Hero.”

“…I’ve heard of it.”

 

It wasn’t wrong since I certainly experienced the Hero’s trial in Belive Territory, but why had this happened when I was clearly introduced as a Dark Mage?

 

In this absurd situation, I quietly ate my food. Thanks to it, I felt like I was gaining some strength in my body.

 

“No matter how strong the Religious Order’s power is, they can’t stand by and watch their own citizens being harmed anymore.”

“I see.”

“They say the First Prince who returned to the palace this time strongly advocated for this, but there probably aren’t only pure intentions. Just looking at how they chose our trading company first, I think they’re trying to stimulate other trading companies to prepare for war.”

“War…?”

 

I answered in surprise.

 

How long had it been since the great war with the Demon Realm ended, and now they’re talking about war again?

 

“After all, no less than the Archbishop and Holy Knights of the Religious Order committed terrorism in the Royal Capital and disappeared without a trace. Isn’t this practically a declaration of war by the Religious Order?”

“…”

 

I don’t know how the Demon Lord dealt with them, but this seems to be how it’s known to the public.

 

If the Royal Palace announces it, the stories about the Dark Mage circulating in the streets will quickly die down.

 

I don’t know how many people will be convinced, but it will be treated as rumors spread by the Religious Order to hide their evil acts.

 

But why would the Royal Palace do this? Since they couldn’t avoid responsibility anyway, were they trying to at least secure justification?

 

If the Demon Lord were here, he would have given a clear answer, but he’s been consistently unresponsive. It would be reasonable to see this as a side effect of Spirit Summoning.

 

“So, what will you do now, Jude?”

“Me?”

“Yes. War is a terrible thing, but from the perspective of Merchants like us, it’s an opportunity we can’t miss. If I had my way, I’d like you to continue working with us like before…”

 

From his expectant gaze, I realized why I was being treated to delicious food.

 

Since the trading company was ruined, he would need people to work again. It was obvious how desperately he needed the calculation abilities that the Demon Lord and I had shown.

 

However, I couldn’t leisurely help with trading company work. It wouldn’t be good for them if I continued to stay.

 

When trials I hadn’t yet experienced came, I didn’t know how they might get involved.

 

“I thought so. Here, please take this.”

“What’s this?”

 

When I shook my head, Dahan spoke regretfully and handed me a pouch.

 

“It’s payment for the work you’ve done so far. Please understand that I couldn’t give you more since the trading company is in such a state.”

“No…”

 

Although I had done quite a lot of work, I never thought I’d be able to receive payment in this situation.

 

Still, I couldn’t refuse what was being offered, so I quickly grabbed the pouch.

 

A heavy weight. A golden glint slightly visible inside.

 

“I included a generous bonus, so it shouldn’t be too little.”

 

It wasn’t just not too little, it seemed excessive.

 

If these were all gold coins, it was several times more than the living expenses Master had left when responding to the Demon Lord’s summons.

 

‘Should I have just stayed and continued working for the trading company? Why did someone with such generous spirit backstab Simone? Could it be that Simone misunderstood something?’

 

My hands nearly trembled at the sudden fortune given to me.

 

“I’ve kept a busy person here too long. If you’re finished eating, let’s get up.”

 

Dahan said while wiping his mouth with a napkin. His bowl was completely empty, though I couldn’t tell when he had finished eating while talking so much.

 

As I finished greeting him and was leaving, one question crossed my mind.

 

‘Why was he carrying around a pouch of money to give me?’

 

As if he had been searching for me.

 

No way, that couldn’t be it.

 

I shook my head to dismiss the doubt and quickened my pace.

 

I gave up on finding Simone. All my business with him had been resolved through Dahan anyway.

 

My next destination was Border City Andril.

 

It was the place where the second material for the Holy Sword was located, and the city where Master’s dungeon was situated.

 

* * *

 

In tremendous pain, Miril opened her eyes.

 

A familiar ceiling greeted her. The Old Trading Company House where the trading company had lived before moving. But it was the ceiling of a home that had been warm.

 

The moment she tried to sit up while feeling indescribably complex emotions.

 

“Don’t get up yet. You’re not in good condition.”

 

The woman sitting beside her spoke curtly.

 

Even while speaking, the woman’s gaze was directed somewhere unknown, her expression deeply furrowed.

 

“Excuse me…”

 

Simply put, she looked quite reluctant to be spoken to, but Miril had no choice but to call out to her.

 

“Who are you?”

“Just call me Mage. You wouldn’t know even if I told you my name.”

“….”

 

A tone that felt like hitting a wall. Miril immediately closed her mouth.

 

“I came here after hearing there was a survivor at that incident site. I have things to ask, and I need to make sure you keep quiet.”

“…What?”

“I’ll ask you straight. How are you alive?”

 

The incident site. At the Mage woman’s words, Miril was searching her memory when she suddenly clutched her head from a terrible headache.

 

“I told you not to move.”

 

Rushing memories. The neck caught by the Paladin, the discovered underground chamber, the Trading Company Owner throwing herself into the flames. Her father. And…

 

“If you’re not sure, just tell me what you remember. Do you remember what happened there? What kind of magic exactly, and how…”

“Please stop.”

 

It was Dahan who interrupted the Mage’s words, having entered through the door at some point.

 

“She still needs to rest.”

“…Do you even know how much the potion I used on her costs?”

“Tell me the price. I’ll pay you back.”

 

The Mage glared at Dahan for a moment before sighing.

 

“Huu…. I’ll leave for today. Contact me if you remember anything. I’ll probably be staying at the Royal Castle for a while.”

“Yes. I understand.”

“About this matter being classified…”

“I know. I’ll make sure to warn my sister thoroughly, so don’t worry.”

 

After the Mage left, the room became quiet.

 

Dahan let out a small sigh, then approached and sat beside Miril with a smile.

 

“Brother?”

“You were lucky. Thanks to quick treatment, they said there shouldn’t be any major aftereffects.”

“I remember. Jude…”

 

Suddenly, Dahan’s eyes sharpened.

 

“Jude tried to save Dad. What should we do? Is Jude okay?”

 

Miril recalled the last scene she saw before losing consciousness.

 

Her father throwing himself into the flames, and Jude rushing to save such a father.

 

She didn’t know why Jude was there, but she clearly remembered him jumping into the flames.

 

“Ah, I see. You don’t need to worry. Jude is safe.”

“Really…? That’s a relief.”

“But Miril.”

 

Dahan spoke with a chilling smile.

 

“Let’s spend our whole lives repaying our debt to that person. You understand, right?”

 

Miril couldn’t see that smile.

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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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