I Picked up the Demon King - Chapter 3

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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 3

 

The oppressive holy power disappeared completely along with the magic circle. It was certainly high-dimensional magic that I couldn’t even begin to understand.

 

-Familiar Magic. That is the magic I cast.

 

Demons are a race that deals in lies. However, not everything they say is composed of falsehoods.

 

-It’s mainly a type of contract that subjugates small animals, insects, or souls to the caster.

 

The demon continued his explanation in a strangely weakened voice.

 

Among contract-type magic, it was the most coercive while also being equally dangerous.

 

I had heard stories of a Lich who tried to command a dragon and became bound to a dungeon, and a Spirit Mage whose soul was mortgaged after attempting to control a Spirit King.

 

-Those are all stories of fools who couldn’t even grasp their own level. Since you don’t seek the target’s consent, you must crush them with overwhelming power or soul rank.

 

That was why there weren’t many practitioners despite its overwhelming convenience. After all, methods to train one’s soul don’t exist in this world.

 

-The disappearance of the body doesn’t diminish the soul’s rank. Even a speck of the soul is valuable enough to rival the entire world. That is what it means to be the Demon Lord. But…

 

It was incomprehensible by common sense that such a magic circle had disappeared without accomplishing anything. That meant it must have achieved some other effect.

 

-What are you, human? Why have I been subjugated in reverse?

 

A demon subjugated to a human by his own magic? Even a passing goblin would laugh at such a story. However, the bewilderment and doubt in the demon’s voice felt too genuine to be acting.

 

‘No.’

 

I must not let my guard down until the end. Demons are beings with lifespans several times that of humans. It’s said that when they decide to deceive, they can fool even the Supreme Sage.

 

Keeping in mind that even these current words might be lies, I calmly felt for changes in my body.

 

Far from feeling constrained by anything, I only felt refreshed now that the holy power weighing down my body had disappeared.

 

Look.

 

Familiar Magic is a contract that binds soul to soul. Even when I closed my eyes and contemplated my own soul, what I felt was…

 

“Huh?”

 

It’s there?

 

Contracts, summoning, curses, poison and plague, mental, life and death, and so on… Dark Mages have countless magical disciplines, but there are fundamental ones among them.

 

Handling souls is also a basic skill for Dark Mages.

 

In other words, it could be seen as the minimum qualification for learning dark magic. The reason I, still merely an apprentice, possess Spirit Sight is also because of this.

 

To not simply see the souls of the dead but to handle them, one must also know how to contemplate one’s own soul.

 

When I examined my soul in this way, there was something like a thin thread connected to it.

 

What was attached to its end was a soul emanating an indescribably ominous aura. However, for some reason, I didn’t feel like it would harm me.

 

Rather, it was a comfortable sensation, as if I could sever it anytime I wanted. The moment I tentatively focused on that connection point.

 

-Kraaak! Stop, stop…!

 

As the connected soul writhed, a terrible scream echoed through my head.

 

Only then did I realize. That the demon’s words had been true.

 

Whether he was a madman calling himself the Demon Lord, at least the part about being subjugated to me was the truth.

 

But I couldn’t feel at ease. The reason Familiar Magic isn’t popular isn’t simply due to its danger alone.

 

The higher the intelligence of the target, the more likely they are to rebel against commands. Humans go without saying, and the same applies to wild beasts and monsters. This demon would be no different.

 

“What exactly are you?”

-Haven’t I told you countless times? The Demon Lord, kraaak!

 

Look at how brazenly he tells lies. It was so seamless that I momentarily wondered if he might actually be the real Demon Lord.

 

“Again. What are you?”

-The Demon Lord, I said the Demon Lord! Stop…!

 

When I thought the screaming was too noisy, the connected thread thinned and the sound diminished.

 

Thinking this would be endless, I decided to change my approach.

 

“I won’t ask about your identity anymore.”

-Well, I’m the Demon Lord, w-wait! I’ll listen. Continue speaking!

 

I couldn’t understand what the demon was thinking. Perhaps even being subjugated to me was part of his plan. If so.

 

“If you don’t want to suffer that pain for life, then swear it. Stake your soul on it.”

 

I said while drawing a magic circle on the ground with my hand. It was basic Contract Magic, a Soul Contract.

 

A terrible magic that could only be established with mutual consent, and would destroy the soul if broken. I remembered it because I had seen it once three years ago.

 

Given the conditions, the learning difficulty was low, and it was magic with proven stability, used by masters before accepting disciples.

 

“First, no matter what happens, assist me so that I don’t die.”

 

So that I can be safe even after leaving this place, the Demon Realm.

 

“First, no matter what happens, do not tell me any lies.”

 

So I could avoid being deceived by the demon and becoming its plaything.

 

-Ridiculous. Do you think I would accept such an unfair contract to avoid this trivial pain?

“The contract period is until I die naturally. At most a few decades. From you demons’ perspective, that’s not such a long time, is it?”

-I’d rather be destroyed.

 

Naturally, the demon didn’t accept. Its pride wouldn’t allow it, I suppose. That’s why I didn’t include conditions like ‘absolute obedience.’

 

But these two items were something I couldn’t compromise on either.

 

“In return, I too will work toward your resurrection. How about it?”

-….

 

I didn’t know how to resurrect a dead demon. But I was certain that it would require reaching an incredible level as a dark mage.

 

For its resurrection, it would have no choice but to teach me the knowledge to elevate my abilities.

 

Even if I failed, it didn’t matter. It wasn’t a vow to ‘resurrect you’ but to ‘work toward your resurrection.’

 

If I quietly learned the demon’s knowledge and built my strength, the condition would be fulfilled. That would also solve the reason I came to this Demon Realm in the first place.

 

“If you refuse, I’m afraid I’ll have no choice but to destroy you.”

 

Though it was a soul of great power, its soul was now completely in my hands. I didn’t know how to destroy it, but if I continued torturing it like this, it would eventually be destroyed.

 

-If you add one condition, I’ll agree to the contract. Just as you set two conditions, I cannot be satisfied with just one either.

“I’ll hear it.”

-Revenge. The death of those involved in my death.

 

Those involved in the demon’s death. Most likely the Hero and his companions. It must have been caught up in the aftermath when they fought the Demon Lord.

 

The recorded lifespan of the First Hero in history was about one hundred and twenty years. Considering this Hero’s age, about a hundred years remained.

 

‘Death, death indeed.’

 

After much deliberation, I decided to accept that condition.

 

‘Whatever, I just need to live a bit longer.’

 

What the demon proposed was only ‘death.’ It didn’t mean I had to kill them directly.

 

Unlike dark mages who defy natural law, Heroes have no way to avoid their predetermined lifespan. Then it was simple. I just needed to survive until the Hero and his companions died of old age.

 

“Fine.”

 

It was a profitable deal.

 

After checking several times to see if there were any mistakes in the magic circle, I bit my finger.

 

I let the blood that burst out with the pain flow to the center of the magic circle.

 

“I, Jude, swear to the following. First, while alive, I will work toward the resurrection of the soul bound to me. Second, while alive, I will work to ensure the death of those related to that soul’s death.”

 

Red light burst forth from the magic circle.

 

-In the name of Alderion, King of the Demon Realm, I swear. I will not permit death to the master of this soul. I will always speak only truth as I have until now.

 

My body flinched slightly. Even in this situation, still going on about being the Demon Lord.

 

However, it wasn’t a problem that would greatly affect the contract process. As long as the party swore of their own will, the magic would be established.

 

The light responded to the demon’s voice.

 

‘It worked.’

 

“The duration of this contract is until my life ends. Do you agree?”

-I agree.

 

The magic circle stained with blood floated in the air and approached my heart area. It disappeared as if being absorbed.

 

When I observed the soul again, I could perceive the Contract Mark successfully settled on both the demon’s and my soul.

 

“Phew….”

 

A sigh of relief escaped naturally. Realizing I had been under tremendous tension until just moments ago, I wiped my sweat-damp hands on my pants.

 

Familiar Magic and Soul Contract. Bound doubly, this demon was now completely subordinate to me.

 

“To confirm the contract worked properly, let me ask. What are you, really?”

-Still going on about that even now. Hehe.

 

Was it planning to avoid answering even though it said it wouldn’t lie? But I had already figured out its intentions. Just as I was about to torture it with Familiar Magic in mind.

 

-I’ll tell you as many times as needed. I am the Demon Lord.

 

I examined the Contract Magic engraved on the soul. It was working normally. In contrast, my heart beat as if broken.

 

-The source of all evil and misfortune, and the rightful ruler of the Demon Realm.

 

Was it because of the humid air of the Demon Realm? I felt suffocated.

 

-Try your best. Until you achieve my revenge and resurrect me. This body will not permit your death.

 

On the hand I was rubbing to wipe away sweat, the self-inflicted wound had already disappeared.

 

I realized the loophole in the contract. To assist me so I wouldn’t die no matter what. When I said it, I only had murder in mind, but if it tried to forcibly extend my lifespan….

 

-Moreover, to swear with your own hands to kill the Goddess. I’m impressed with you, Jude.

 

His thoughts didn’t connect.

 

Of course they didn’t. At most, he had spoken those words thinking of the Hero and his companions. But the Goddess? Why would that name come up?

 

He frantically examined the Contract Mark, but as expected, it was working perfectly fine. It meant there was no lie in what the demon had said.

 

-My master.

 

The demon…

 

No, the Demon Lord spoke in a mocking tone.

 

Never trust a demon. That maxim, merely recalling it alone, was not enough for the Apprentice Dark Mage.

 

* * *

 

The Sanctuary located in the Empire.

 

A commemorative service that had continued for months since the victory. Refusing the gathering where countless Continental Power Holders including Nobles and Priests came and went, light arose in the place where the Saint was praying.

 

The expression of the Saint, who had been praying with her eyes closed, changed completely.

 

“Th-this is…!”

 

This was clearly a sign of divine revelation.

 

Though it was something difficult to experience even once in a generation, the Saint had experienced such a phenomenon before. Just three years ago, when the Hero was born.

 

‘What could she be trying to say.’

 

The Goddess hadn’t said even a word of congratulations when they succeeded in defeating the Demon Lord.

 

‘Since gods and humans cannot have the same sensibilities, perhaps she’s trying to give that praise now.’

 

Thinking this, the Saint bowed her head and listened carefully to the Goddess’s voice. However.

 

-In the Lowest Land, a new Demon Lord has been born.

 

The words that came were the complete opposite of what she had expected.

 

-My servants, destroy him. Prevent him from growing sufficiently. Repay the love I have bestowed upon you.

 

The Goddess spoke in her usual emotionless voice.

 

-That is the reason for your existence.

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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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