I Picked up the Demon King - Chapter 32

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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 32

 

“The Dark Mage Sevian.”

 

Count Andril tilted his head sideways and muttered. His face hidden in shadows and his low voice indicated his displeasure.

 

However, what displeased the Count was not the Dark Mage’s name.

 

“More than that, Head Butler. How long have you been affiliated with that organization called Dawn?”

“…I apologize.”

“Well, never mind. We’ll discuss that later. That doesn’t seem to be what we should prioritize right now.”

 

The Count leaned back against his chair and searched his memory for a moment.

 

“I’ve heard of him. One of the twelve high-ranking Dark Mages. He destroyed the Religious Order’s research facilities and attacked a secretly operating Trading Company, wasn’t it? It was quite a noisy incident a few years ago.”

 

The Head Butler waited politely with his body bowed for the Count to finish speaking.

 

“What do you plan to do by finding such a person?”

“The rumors that have recently spread throughout the Kingdom… You must have heard the stories about the new Hero.”

“Ah…”

 

The Count nodded as if remembering something and let out a hollow laugh.

 

“They said those called Heroes are appearing all across the Continent. Especially that one from Belive Territory. Since you brought up that story now, does that mean he’s the one called the Hero of Belive Territory?”

“Yes.”

“A filthy Dark Mage couldn’t really have become a Hero, so it must be rumors inflated by those Dawn people or whatever they’re called.”

 

The Count stroked his chin with one hand and clicked his tongue in displeasure.

 

“Hmph. In the end, isn’t he just a filthy Dark Mage? To think of joining hands with a Dark Mage, no matter how much they oppose the Religious Order. Those Dawn people, I don’t like them at all.”

 

The Count’s voice was filled with thick disgust.

 

It was natural. To him, who had lived as the lord of a Territory for decades, Dark Mages were like wild beasts targeting Territory Residents.

 

How many Territory Residents had been sacrificed by their hands? How many villages had been burned down? While it was true that the Religious Order’s recent actions were strange, Dark Mages were incomparable to that.

 

In some ways, they were worse than monsters. He couldn’t help but feel disgusted.

 

“We haven’t joined hands yet.”

“You haven’t joined hands? I see. Are you trying to keep the Hero in check?”

 

The Count stopped the butler who was raising his hand to begin explaining and muttered.

 

“You’re trying to taint the very symbol of Hero. The one they elevated as Hero turns out to be a Dark Mage. The Hero himself did nothing wrong, but his honor would be tarnished.”

“That’s correct.”

“What do you plan to do after finding him? Will you execute him and announce his identity to the world?”

 

Even to the Count’s probing voice, the Head Butler only answered without showing any sign of wavering.

 

“For now, we plan to support him.”

“…I don’t understand what the First Prince is thinking.”

 

The Count gestured as if to say continue.

 

“Since it’s certain that he’s in an adversarial relationship with the Religious Order, we judge that his mere existence will be sufficient help in the future. If we can control that direction with appropriate support…”

“It won’t be as easy as you think. What’s his disposition like? Any records of massacring civilians?”

 

If he had a history of attacking villages belonging to the Count’s Domain, he couldn’t forgive him. As the Count thought this and asked, the Head Butler rummaged through the papers he was holding and answered.

 

“There are no such records.”

 

For a moment, the glasses he was wearing glinted.

 

“While there isn’t no civilian damage, most occurred during conflicts with the Religious Order. Compared to other high-ranking Dark Mages, he seems to have quite a moderate personality.”

“Maybe the information just wasn’t recorded.”

“Of course, that’s possible, but.”

 

Watching the Head Butler bow his head obediently even to his sarcastic voice, the Count frowned again. Since they had discussed this much, he had no choice but to follow the Prince’s words.

 

“Tsk. What about additional information on him? Things like his main Magic… I can’t just drive Territory Residents and Soldiers to their deaths recklessly.”

“Sevian’s main Magic is Six Arms.”

“…A very Dark Magic-like name.”

“They say his specialty is continuous Magical Bombardment by forming Hand Seals with multiple arms made of bone.”

 

Count Andril, who heard the Head Butler’s explanation, thought.

 

That was truly terrifying Magic.

 

* * *

 

A Black Cover without even a name written on it. When I turned the cover with trembling hands, what I saw was Master’s handwriting.

 

[Researching Magic is difficult work.]

[Especially Dark Magic is closer to sorcery than scholarship. To prevent the Magic I’ve created from becoming useless, I record its meaning in this book.]

[The name of this Magic is Six Arms.]

[It is both a shield to protect me and family to embrace me warmly.]

 

The content that followed looked like Master’s research journal. Or perhaps a diary.

 

While casually turning the pages, I hurriedly closed the book, feeling embarrassed as if I was seeing something I shouldn’t.

 

“‘Six Arms’, is it.”

 

Master’s Magic, whose name I didn’t even know.

 

I thought the path to inherit it had completely disappeared after Master’s death, but thanks to the Ice Spirit, I was able to prevent the lineage from being broken.

 

“Thank you.”

-Kii?

 

After briefly patting the Ice Spirit who tilted its empty face in confusion, I hurriedly left Master’s room.

 

Though I desperately wanted to study the legacy Master had left behind, that wasn’t what was urgent right now.

 

I had to punish the intruders who dared to defile the dungeon where my memories with Master were embedded.

 

When I absorbed the mercenary’s soul that I had stored beforehand, the pain in my mana core subsided and fragmented memories came pouring out.

 

Most of the memories were useless. However, for a very brief time, there were a few scenes that left particularly strong impressions.

 

Golden hair that sparkled more than the gold coins in the pouch. Skin as white as the Ice Spirit’s ice. And finally, ears as sharp as blade edges. It was unmistakably…

 

“…An elf?”

 

It was an elf.

 

Why would the image of an elf, who supposedly stayed secluded in the Great Forest and didn’t interfere with humans, remain in this man’s memory?

 

I couldn’t understand it, but it was an undeniable fact that an elf had invaded the dungeon together with them. Even at this very moment, that elf was probably getting farther away from the dungeon.

 

Finding and punishing the elf was the priority. If they had stolen something from the dungeon, I would retrieve it. Studying Master’s grimoire would come after that.

 

Judging by the state of the living mercenary, the elf had left this dungeon only a few hours ago at most. It must have been just before I arrived at the dungeon.

 

But because I was exhausted and dozed off, I missed the perfect opportunity to chase the elf.

 

Of course, if I had known someone had invaded the dungeon, I wouldn’t have fallen asleep, but I made a mistake due to my relaxed guard. If they had remained in the dungeon in perfect condition, even my life might have been in danger.

 

For now, I felt fortunate that the Demon Lord’s voice couldn’t be heard. Otherwise, I could vividly imagine how much he would have mocked me, his laughter echoing clearly.

 

“Huu…”

 

I carefully placed the grimoire in my embrace and began thinking with my eyes closed.

 

‘The mercenaries’ deaths are strange. No matter how thorough Master’s room security was, it wasn’t enough to kill them so brutally. It looks like they were attacked by someone else. Was there internal conflict?’

 

I analyzed the mercenary’s fragmented memories piece by piece.

 

‘The behavior of always staying a few steps away from other companions. Was it aversion to humans? Or from the beginning…’

 

I had never learned magic for tracking someone. However, if I combined the clues well, I would surely be able to find that creature.

 

First, I ruled out the city.

 

An elf with such severe human hatred that they avoided mingling with other mercenaries wouldn’t likely head to a city teeming with people.

 

It might be different if they were trying to shake off pursuers, but this was a dungeon that had been abandoned for months.

 

Then wouldn’t they have headed to a nearby forest?

 

Though it might be prejudice that elves like forests, the mercenary’s memory clearly contained the elf’s words and actions that often reminisced about forests.

 

No matter how sudden the attack was, the elf couldn’t have remained unharmed after facing this many mercenaries, so it seemed likely they were resting in the forest.

 

There was only one nearby forest.

 

The moment I heard news that the Demon Lord had been defeated, I had even considered fleeing to the forest, so I couldn’t not know about it.

 

I urged my legs, which had regained strength from the brief rest. Thanks to that, I was able to reach the forest without much time.

 

The real problem started from here.

 

How to find an elf in this vast forest.

 

It was an elf called a forest race. Though this wasn’t the Great Forest, there was no way I could catch up to them in a forest.

 

‘Should I just set it on fire?’

 

I shook my head, dismissing the thought that momentarily arose.

 

I wasn’t a Demon Lord, and I couldn’t burn down a forest just to catch one elf.

 

After pondering briefly, the moment I stepped into the forest, I felt as if the air was changing.

 

Like dipping feet into a river, I could feel that this was a completely different space.

 

“…”

 

The mana circulating in the forest was different. Was the forest rejoicing at the elf’s visit?

 

Unlike ordinary mana, this mana even contained vibrant life force. Just breathing quietly seemed to wash away my body’s fatigue.

 

While walking slowly, I discovered small flowers blooming on one side.

 

‘The season for flowers to bloom should have already passed…?’

 

While staring at the flowers as if enchanted, I saw more of the same flowers growing along one path.

 

I slowly moved my steps, following the path of flowers. The deeper I went into the forest, the more concentrated the life force became.

 

The flowers that had been growing one or two at a time along the path eventually wound around trees, blooming in dozens, hundreds. The tree leaves gleamed with luster, and the sound of birds chirping as they pecked at fruit echoed in my ears.

 

Finally, at the end of the path.

 

I saw a woman lying surrounded by flowers. Golden hair that sparkled more than gold coins. Skin as white as ice. Ears as sharp as blade edges.

 

It was that elf I had seen in the mercenary’s memory.

 

‘First subdue her, then interrogate how she found the dungeon.’

 

Her pale complexion suggested her physical condition wasn’t good. It seemed clear she wouldn’t be able to resist too much, and just as my tension began to ease slightly.

 

“…!”

 

The elf’s hand moved swiftly, and before I knew it, she had aimed her bow at me and released the bowstring. The movement was so fast that there was absolutely no time to react.

 

An arrow came flying through the air. The blue energy swirling around the arrow felt like it would slice me to pieces at any moment. The speed and power were incomparable to the arrows of the soldiers I had faced so far.

 

However.

 

A thin ice barrier that appeared before my eyes easily deflected the arrow. The elf’s eyes shook mercilessly.

 

“You blocked it? A mere human?”

 

A voice like singing. What responded to it wasn’t me.

 

-Kkie?

“…!”

 

The Ice Spirit perched on my shoulder tilted its head, then growled toward the elf.

 

I prepared for an attack that would come immediately, but the elf remained motionless with her mouth agape as if in shock.

 

Was this another trick to make me lower my guard? Just as I was about to reach into my coat to draw my scythe.

 

The elf spoke in a voice as if her soul had left her body.

 

“A spirit…?”

 

No, it’s not.

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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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