I Picked up the Demon King - Chapter 35

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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 35

 

For a commoner who has nothing, the talent for mana is nothing short of a blessing.

 

That’s what I thought.

 

Born under unremarkable parents, I showed extraordinary talent from childhood. I was quick to learn speech and skilled at arithmetic too.

 

Of course, that talent never had a chance to shine.

 

I was just a farmer’s child. Even if I had slightly superior intelligence than others, I was merely an odd fellow. A child who listened better than his peers, mature for his age. That’s how my parents evaluated me.

 

Things changed around the age of twelve.

 

It was the moment I caught the eye of a Mage who happened to be passing by. The Mage from the Green Magic Tower said I had talent for magic and suggested I join the Magic Tower with him.

 

My parents felt the same way.

 

To country folk, a Mage is no different from a god who wields incomprehensible power. When told their child could become like that, who would refuse?

 

So I headed to the Magic Tower. Later, I thought:

 

‘I shouldn’t have done that.’

 

-From a certain Mage’s diary-

 

* * *

 

It was hell.

 

Taitos, the proud Knight of Count Andril’s Territory, thought so.

 

Only about ten breaths had passed since encountering the Dark Mage. Yet the Soldiers were already annihilated, and the Knights would have collapsed long ago without the Mage’s assistance.

 

And that future wasn’t far off either.

 

The speed at which the Mage’s Protection Magic was breaking apart was much faster than new ones being created.

 

“How long can you hold out?”

“….”

“Hanua?”

“…Don’t talk to me! I’m busy!”

 

Right after the sweating Mage’s outcry, the crystal on the Staff he was holding shattered. It was then that he spat blood from his mouth as he tried to cast a Spell.

 

“Kugh…!”

 

Knight Taitos thought:

 

‘A Mage prepared to face enemies in his own Dungeon is strong… But even so, five or six Knights of similar level should be enough to subdue him.’

 

The reason was the manifestation speed of Spells.

 

Low-tier Spells that could manifest quickly could be ignored with Aura and Protection Magic engraved on Armor, and if they tried to activate High-tier Spells, you could cut their throat before they finished chanting.

 

As long as you were careful of pre-engraved Magic Circles activating, it wasn’t particularly difficult.

 

Since he had actually killed quite a few Dark Mages this way, it wasn’t unreasonable for Taitos to think so.

 

‘But….’

 

Taitos squeezed his eyes shut. He had no choice.

 

He had heard that the opponent was one of the twelve High-rank Dark Mages. But who were the forces deployed now?

 

No less than five Knights of Count Andril’s Territory, plus Hanua, a high-ranking Mage specialized in defense who had been active in the territory for decades. On top of that, hundreds of Soldiers were added.

 

A force believable enough to turn an entire territory into ruins. Honestly, even if the opponent was a High-rank Dark Mage, he thought dialogue would be possible.

 

No, he thought they could overwhelm him.

 

The current situation was nothing like that. If they were being beaten inside the Dungeon, he would have judged it was because the opponent was thoroughly prepared.

 

But pushed back by the enemy’s attacks, the place where they were now located was somehow a Clearing dozens of meters away from the Dungeon.

 

The Corpses of burned Soldiers scattered around had turned to powder, unable to withstand the continuous attacks.

 

The power of Magic hadn’t diminished at all compared to the beginning. Moreover, he poured out Spells that would take others ages to cast, without even resting.

 

‘This is Six Arms….’

 

The arms made of Bone attached to the Dark Mage’s back. It was content they had thoroughly studied through the Lord before departing, but he hadn’t expected it to have this level of power.

 

“Everyone, prepare.”

 

Taitos swallowed and muttered quietly. Even amid the Magic Bombardment ringing in their eardrums, the trained Knights didn’t miss that sound.

 

After Hanua spat blood earlier, the power of the Protection Magic had noticeably decreased.

 

The time remaining was at most a few seconds.

 

Even so, they couldn’t just wait idly until Hanua’s life was cut short.

 

“Hanua!”

“…Kuk, understood!”

 

The Knights who had drawn up their Aura to the fullest expanded their muscles.

 

Right after, the moment Hanua released his Magic.

 

“Let’s go!”

 

Five skilled knights shot out like lightning toward the Dark Mage.

 

And some time later.

 

What remained in the ruined clearing were charred corpses and weapons and armor.

 

“It was quite troublesome. But it worked out well since I needed test subjects anyway.”

 

And only one Dark Mage.

 

* * *

 

Andril, which I visited again after several days, was considerably depressed.

 

It felt similar to when the war with the Demon Realm was in full swing.

 

They said there were concerns about war with the Holy Nation, so perhaps there was new news about that. The answer to that could be heard without much difficulty.

 

“That Dark Mage is really that strong?”

“The advance team was completely wiped out.”

“Didn’t Lord Hanua go with them? He’s the one who stopped the monster wave ten years ago… Should we request support from the Religious Order…”

“Fat chance they’ll help.”

 

I had never thought there would be another Dark Mage around Master’s territory, but it seemed there was some bold bastard there.

 

That bastard’s skills seemed unexpectedly excellent too. A large-scale subjugation force would probably be assembled soon.

 

It was none of my business.

 

While I had considerable desire to test Master’s magic, it wasn’t something to do in front of a large-scale force.

 

“How much is this?”

“That? Seven copper coins.”

 

The price of bread had risen even more than before, but I paid without showing any particular reaction.

 

“Hmm?”

 

The Bakery Owner, who had been calculating with an indifferent expression, looked at my face and made a strange expression.

 

“What. You were alive?”

“Excuse me?”

“I thought so. Since I hadn’t seen you for a while, I thought you’d been done in by that Sevian guy or whatever.”

“Sevian?”

“The Dark Mage up north. Haven’t you heard? There are rumors that he’s vicious.”

 

A familiar name contained in words delivered like a joke.

 

My head went blank at the unexpected words. Whether it showed on the outside, the Bakery Owner asked curiously.

 

“Is something wrong?”

“…Didn’t you think I didn’t come because the prices were too expensive?”

“If you don’t like it, don’t buy it.”

“No. Well…”

 

I had tried bread from other stores, but this place’s bread was the most delicious. Even though it was quite pricey for bread, it wasn’t much of a burden, so it didn’t matter.

 

Even while walking out carrying the bag containing the bread, my thoughts couldn’t be easily organized.

 

Sevian.

 

My beloved Master’s name, which I thought I would never hear again.

 

Why had that name come from the mouth of the Bakery Owner, whom I thought would have nothing to do with it? The reason was obvious.

 

That Dark Mage said to be at the North Gate must have impersonated Master without knowing his place.

 

Bewilderment and anger.

 

But what I felt even more strongly than that was doubt and expectation.

 

How did that bastard know Master and impersonate his name? Could there be some connection to Master that I didn’t know about? If so, might he have clues about Master’s final moments?

 

In any case, these were questions that could only be resolved by meeting that Dark Mage.

 

However, there was no way a proper conversation would happen if I just went to find him suddenly. As I had heard from Master countless times, Dark Mages were generally creatures with poor character.

 

The possibility of combat breaking out the moment we met couldn’t be ignored either. That bastard already had a record of massacring the lord’s soldiers, so I had to be even more careful.

 

‘For now…’

 

I could easily think of a method.

 

The lord was recruiting soldiers anyway, so I could just mix in with them. If I hid among the soldiers, I would certainly be able to complete my reconnaissance more safely.

 

It was an impulsive decision, but it seemed like a decent idea.

 

“We’re recruiting soldiers. If you volunteer now, we promise better treatment than those who get conscripted later!”

“You’re telling us to go die?”

“This time the lord’s Knight Order will be with us. Dangerous work like the advance force…!”

“You said the same thing when the advance team left. Who do you think will believe that?”

 

The Recruitment Officer arguing with the citizens.

 

After the citizens who had hurled a barrage of curses left, I approached and stood before him as he sighed.

 

“…And you are?”

“I would like to volunteer for this Dark Mage dungeon exploration.”

 

The Recruitment Officer looked at me with an expression mixing slight relief and bewilderment.

 

And rightfully so, since anyone in their right mind wouldn’t volunteer for the follow-up force when the advance troops had been completely wiped out. The citizens who had been criticizing him just moments ago proved that point.

 

The Recruitment Officer himself probably never thought anyone would volunteer.

 

“Are you sure about this? I hate to say this, but… it will be dangerous.”

“I’m aware.”

“Then why?”

 

I couldn’t honestly say it was because I wanted to see the face of the bastard impersonating my Master. But that was fine.

 

Perhaps my experience traveling with the Demon Lord helped. A prepared answer spilled from my lips without the slightest hesitation.

 

“Didn’t you say earlier? That you promised better treatment than those who get conscripted later.”

“I did.”

“That means large-scale conscription is planned. If it’s unavoidable, it’s better to receive better treatment.”

 

When I said this with a smile, the Recruitment Officer made a strange expression.

 

“But how can you trust my words?”

 

He wasn’t talking about the conscription. He meant what if he pretended not to know once I actually became a soldier.

 

Deceiving with sweet words was a characteristic of demons. Having dealt with the Demon Lord to the point of exhaustion, there was no way I hadn’t considered that possibility.

 

Of course, even if that were the case, it didn’t matter. I had no intention of ending my life as a soldier.

 

Even if his words were just random babbling, I only needed to endure for a few days until I achieved my goal. Nothing would change significantly.

 

Therefore, I answered without erasing the smile on my face.

 

“I’ll have to rely on your conscience, Recruitment Officer.”

“Hah…”

 

The Recruitment Officer let out a sigh as if dumbfounded, then smiled and spoke.

 

“I can’t tell if you’re simple or deep in thought. Don’t worry. I can’t tell you the details yet, but this time won’t be like the last subjugation. And…”

 

While he drew out his words, I didn’t miss the slightly furrowed expression.

 

“I keep my promises well. Soldier, what’s your name?”

“…Johnny. It’s Johnny. I’m from Belive Territory.”

“Johnny from Belive. I’ll remember for sure. You should know you’re lucky. Hey, come here and guide this fellow!”

 

I soon followed the approaching soldier toward the barracks.

 

“Do you know how to handle any weapons?”

 

The soldier guiding me glanced back and asked.

 

“Scythe…”

“…Scythe?”

 

I realized my mistake from the soldier’s suddenly strange expression.

 

It would be hard to find people who use scythes as weapons. At best, you’d only find angry farmers.

 

“…I misspoke. I can handle spears a little. I was briefly in the Guard Unit.”

“Really? Then we can save some training time. With the Recruitment Officer’s words too… if your skills are decent, we could make you a Squad Leader of Ten.”

“Squad Leader of Ten?”

“Don’t get too excited. Even so, everyone under you would be conscripts.”

 

The soldier spoke as if it was nothing special, but I couldn’t smile.

 

The reason I responded to this recruitment in the first place was to check the Dark Mage’s face without standing out. I didn’t want to waste time taking on unnecessary positions.

 

‘Can’t help it. Whatever this skill test is, I’ll have to use moderate strength.’

 

After thinking that for a while.

 

A lightly swung spear cut the opponent’s spear in half.

 

“What, what was that?”

 

The soldier holding the pathetically broken spear’s expression turned stupid. Of course, my expression watching him was the same.

 

‘Why are they so weak?’

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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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