I Picked up the Demon King - Chapter 33

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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 33

 

On nights when I couldn’t sleep, Master would sometimes tell me old stories.

 

Stories from so long ago that just hearing them made my mind feel distant. From times when dragons, now vanished into history, and various races truly existed. Stories from before the First Hero even defeated the Demon Lord.

 

There was one existence that often appeared in those fairy tale-like stories.

 

Spirits.

 

Forms of nature with their own will.

 

Beings recorded sometimes as merciful entities that brought rain during droughts, and sometimes as natural disasters filled with rage.

 

I heard there were even faiths that worshipped them for the mystery and great power that spirits possessed.

 

Many schools of magic had developed by imitating spirits, and some had succeeded in reproducing that power in the form of spirit magic.

 

But spirits, really.

 

I could see the elf covering her mouth with trembling eyes, as if she couldn’t believe the words she had spoken herself.

 

It didn’t seem like she would show such a reaction to something that simply imitated a spirit’s power.

 

‘Well, she’s an elf who’s lived for hundreds of years. She must have commonly seen spirit magic.’

 

I glanced at the Ice Spirit, which was growling at the elf as if ready to pounce at any moment while waiting for orders.

 

Could it be that the Military Spirit had actually transformed into a real spirit because it absorbed the Eternal Ice?

 

‘That can’t be right.’

 

If spirits were such common beings, they wouldn’t have been passed down only as legends until now.

 

Even if that were the case, that’s not what I should be thinking about right now.

 

“Attack.”

 

The Ice Spirit rushed toward the elf.

 

“Kugh…!”

 

The elf let out a groan and dodged the Ice Spirit’s attack.

 

Her movements were fast but somehow unnatural. Considering she had been lying in the forest until just moments ago, she seemed to have sustained injuries that couldn’t be ignored.

 

“Deception.”

 

The Ice Spirit’s form disappeared. Though the speed was slightly slower than usual since my mana core hadn’t fully recovered, there was no major problem with manifesting magic.

 

However, perhaps because of that slight delay.

 

The elf, though flustered, managed to dodge the invisible Ice Spirit’s attack.

 

It was a mysterious movement that naturally reminded me of Narid, the Knight Commander of Belive Territory.

 

Unlike the Military Spirit from back then that could only punch and bite, the current Ice Spirit had various attack methods added, like creating and launching ice pillars, which couldn’t help but draw admiration.

 

‘How did she do that?’

 

Movements that I couldn’t even dare to match, despite having absorbed the souls of several knights.

 

But just as Sir Narid couldn’t withstand the Military Spirit, the elf too couldn’t dodge the Ice Spirit’s attacks forever.

 

Just as an invisible ice spike was about to pierce through the elf’s limbs.

 

“…Dryad!”

 

A cry like bird chirping echoed, and thick roots sprouted from the ground.

 

The ice spike that was meant to pierce the elf struck the roots instead. The ice that should have penetrated through both the roots and the elf was blocked helplessly.

 

Was it because the Ice Spirit’s power had weakened due to the incident in the Royal Capital?

 

‘No.’

 

During our journey to Andril Territory, we had faced various dangers, and each time the Ice Spirit had fulfilled its role adequately. I had long confirmed that it could easily pierce through tree roots.

 

Then those roots must be special. I could get a hint from the elf’s cry.

 

Dryad.

 

It was the name of a tree spirit, one of the ancient spirits that existed in the old days, which I had heard about in Master’s old stories.

 

She couldn’t have actually summoned a real spirit. If it were a spirit where each individual symbolized nature itself, it would have crushed both me and the Ice Spirit in an instant rather than just blocking an attack.

 

Then I could win.

 

As soon as I finished my assessment, I concealed myself with Deception and rushed toward the elf.

 

Somehow sensing it, tree roots sprouted up trying to bind my feet, but they were just slightly bothersome. They couldn’t actually bind my feet.

 

However.

 

It was enough time for the elf, who sensed defeat, to escape.

 

She vanished in an instant. Her speed was so fast that I couldn’t even think of chasing after her.

 

“…They say the forest is the elf’s domain.”

 

Indeed, that was the case.

 

If she could flee at that speed while shooting arrows, there would be no proper way to defeat an elf in the forest.

 

Perhaps it would have been better to burn down the entire forest after all.

 

And so I failed to capture the elf.

 

Where the elf had disappeared, only a thick floral fragrance remained, lingering around my nose.

 

* * *

 

What could be the reason the elf invaded Master’s Dungeon?

 

Even after leaving the forest and pondering for a long time, no answer came. Master’s secret technique, Six Arms, was indeed a great magic, but how could an elf from the Great Forest know about it and come seeking it?

 

She even left without touching the grimoire. There were too many suspicious aspects to simply say she hadn’t discovered it.

 

“…Aren’t you buying anything?”

“Ah. Sorry. I was lost in thought.”

“No matter how hard you stare, I’m not planning to give you a discount, so give up.”

 

The Bakery Owner waved his hand dismissively.

 

The bakery I had frequented until a few months ago hadn’t changed much from what I remembered.

 

Most of the other stores around had added several more display stands and seemed to have hired a few new staff members. It was probably thanks to the increased population in the territory.

 

I remembered this being quite a delicious place, so why was only this store unchanged?

 

“How much is this one?”

“That? Five copper coins.”

 

The mystery was quickly solved. Price was the problem.

 

‘I remember this store being much cheaper before.’

 

Five copper coins.

 

Even though it wasn’t the bread I usually ate, it was more expensive than I had expected.

 

If the prices had always been this high, I might have starved to death not long after Master left. No matter how much the population increased, things wouldn’t sell if they were too expensive.

 

Of course, it didn’t matter to me since I still had the gold coin pouch I received from Dahan.

 

“Here you go.”

“…A gold coin? Wait a moment. I’ll give you change.”

 

After receiving the change, I took a big bite of the bread topped with meat.

 

The tangy seasoning, meat, and soft bread combined to create a fantastic taste. Since I hadn’t eaten properly for several days, by the time I came to my senses, all the bread had disappeared into my stomach.

 

“…Give me this, this, and this too. Oh, do you happen to have any bread that keeps well for a long time?”

“If you’re looking for something like that, you’d be better off buying jerky instead. Don’t you think?”

 

The Bakery Owner shook his head and grumbled, but diligently packed the bread I had chosen.

 

The quantity was quite substantial, so I had to give the change I had just received right back to the Bakery Owner.

 

‘Now I need to return to the dungeon and spend some time studying Master’s grimoire…’

 

Since I didn’t know how long it would take to learn new magic, I needed a considerable amount of food.

 

However, there was no way there would be any food in a dungeon that had been empty for several months.

 

That was why I had purchased food, including bread, with both hands full.

 

Just as I was hurrying my steps, eager to clean up the messy dungeon and study the grimoire.

 

I nearly collided with someone who jumped out from an alley.

 

Fortunately, I managed to keep my balance well enough not to spill the food I was carrying, but it was quite a dangerous situation.

 

“I’m sorry!”

 

Without even thinking to wipe the dirt-stained face, bowing and quickly running away was a young child.

 

Perhaps just past ten years old.

 

The child who arrived at the bakery spent a long time examining the display case before asking the Bakery Owner.

 

“How much is this?”

“That? Let me see…”

 

My enhanced eyesight from passing the Hero’s trials didn’t miss how much money the child had been clutching earlier.

 

At most one or two copper coins.

 

It was probably money earned from begging somewhere, but it was woefully insufficient to buy bread that had become much more expensive over the past few months.

 

Just as I was about to sigh and hurry on my way.

 

“This and this together, one copper coin.”

“Really? Wow, thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. I’m still selling it for money.”

 

I walked away thinking that perhaps it wasn’t the bakery owner who had changed, but me.

 

To reach the West Gate leading to the dungeon, I had to pass through the plaza.

 

The plaza I had just passed through moments ago was, for some reason, quite noisy.

 

The sound of hundreds of people gathered and chattering made me frown involuntarily.

 

I was carefully moving around people, thinking that if I wasn’t careful, the food I was carrying might spill.

 

An elder climbed up onto the platform in the center of the plaza.

 

“….”

 

The memories that naturally surfaced made me feel unpleasant, but what followed him up were soldiers, not prisoners.

 

I relaxed my frowning expression and asked the man standing next to me.

 

“Who is that person?”

“You don’t know him?”

 

The man who looked me over suspiciously soon relaxed his expression, saying it was understandable, and answered.

 

“That’s the Lord’s Head Butler. He’s a loyal retainer among loyal retainers who has served the Count’s House for several generations.”

“Ah.”

 

It seemed like he was going to make some major announcement, but it had nothing to do with me.

 

That’s what I thought.

 

“I address all citizens of Andril.”

 

The elder called the Head Butler opened his mouth. The people fell silent at the same time.

 

No one opened their mouth. If I moved in a situation like this, I would obviously draw attention, so I had no choice but to wait until the elder finished speaking.

 

“Count Andril, who has received legitimate authority from the Balaih Royal Family, has ordered large-scale military recruitment targeting the citizens of the territory.”

 

The plaza became noisy all at once, as if the quiet from just moments before had been a lie.

 

“Are you telling us to jump into war right now!”

“I, I am not a citizen of the Balaih Kingdom! I want to return to my home country. Please open the gates!”

 

The citizens had guessed.

 

If they were recruiting troops now, the reason must be to prepare for the upcoming war with the Religious Order.

 

But the commotion didn’t last long.

 

“Quiet!”

 

It was because of the thunderous shout that was hard to believe came from the elder’s mouth, and the soldiers who stamped their feet in unison afterward.

 

When the citizens who felt intimidated closed their mouths, the Head Butler calmly looked around and said.

 

“The purpose of this military recruitment is to explore the Dark Mage’s dungeon located near the territory.”

 

People murmuring.

 

“Dark Mage?”

“Most of them died in the last war. So it’s nothing serious, right?”

 

At the same time, my steps, which had been trying to slip away taking advantage of the confusion, stopped again.

 

“Therefore, we will accept volunteers. Volunteers will be provided with sufficient wages and meals. If desired, they may remain as soldiers of Andril Territory afterward. Be grateful for the Lord’s mercy.”

 

The people’s murmuring grew louder.

 

My displeasure also grew along with it. Exploring the Dark Mage’s dungeon. I hadn’t even finished disposing of the intruders’ corpses yet, and it seemed like it would be disturbed again.

 

Looking at people’s reactions now, it seemed there would be more than a few who wanted to volunteer.

 

It was the moment when my plan to peacefully study Master’s grimoire was being ruined.

 

“Sigh….”

 

It couldn’t be helped. Even though I didn’t like it, I couldn’t just watch Master’s dungeon being trampled by ignorant fools.

 

I quickly headed toward the West Gate.

 

Before they organized their forces and attacked, I had to finish sufficient preparations….

 

“According to information, the location of the Dark Mage’s dungeon is north of the territory. It’s about two hours’ distance beyond the North Gate.”

 

Hm?

 

If it’s two hours from the North Gate….

 

“That’s right. In the middle of the Northern Forest of the territory, there is the Dark Mage’s dungeon. Are there those who will join us!”

“Waaah!”

 

At the thought of exploring a masterless dungeon, the citizens cheered.

 

But I was just bewildered.

 

‘Our dungeon is… to the west though?’

 

These people were going to search the wrong place entirely.

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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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