I Picked up the Demon King - Chapter 36

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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 36

 

After filling out simple personal information and changing into the issued uniform. The training ground where I was dragged without even time to unpack.

 

“Start whenever you’re ready.”

 

The senior soldier said while barely covering a yawn with one hand.

 

I could feel the gazes of soldiers watching in various poses – crouching, leaning against walls. I could even hear them making bets on how it would turn out.

 

Though I didn’t think I would lose, it was quite a tense situation. I couldn’t use magic, nor could I use the Ice Spirit.

 

Moreover, due to learning Master’s magic, I had six additional arms attached under my clothes. If my clothes accidentally tore, I could be immediately exposed as a Dark Mage and executed.

 

‘Of course, I have no intention of being executed quietly…’

 

Having escaped from the Royal Capital before, I wouldn’t be caught easily, but you never know how things might turn out.

 

Shaking off the continuing thoughts, I looked at my opponent.

 

Dark tanned skin, sturdy build. He had the appearance that clearly showed he was an experienced soldier, holding a training spear while waiting for me.

 

“Are you ready?”

“…Yes. I’m ready.”

“Then.”

 

The soldier closed his eyes briefly, then kicked off from his position. Muscles trained to fight enemies and monsters exploded with power, generating tremendous speed.

 

The distance closed in an instant. Though blunt, the spear tip was sufficient to cause injury as it glinted in the sunlight.

 

Fortunately, his movement was quite straightforward. I quickly moved sideways to dodge the attack and swung my spear toward him as he thrust into empty air.

 

And the spear the soldier was holding was cleanly cut in half.

 

“….”

“What, what was that?”

 

The mouths of the chattering soldiers closed one by one, and silence settled around us. Their gazes were fixed on the broken training spear, showing no intention of moving.

 

It was actually a natural result.

 

I had learned the basics of spear technique from Mike and other guards, and what I lacked was physical training and experience.

 

The strength enhanced through trials had already transcended the level of ordinary humans, and I had even absorbed a Holy Knight’s experience briefly through Spirit Summoning.

 

Though it became hazy like a momentary dream once the Spirit Summoning’s effect ended, even that was more than enough to face an ordinary soldier.

 

“H-how did you cut the spear in one strike…?”

“…Well. Maybe the spear was old.”

 

Though the other soldiers didn’t seem to notice, the mana I unconsciously infused into the spear proved it.

 

It was far from the aura used by knights.

 

But the mana that naturally flowed in strengthened the spear shaft like aura, increasing its power while simultaneously protecting the spear, creating the situation that just occurred.

 

“The training spears are definitely old. I don’t think I’ve seen them replaced since I was a recruit.”

“I don’t think I’ve seen it either.”

“But would they break that easily? They were fine when we used them yesterday, weren’t they?”

 

The soldiers nodded and accepted the explanation. Seeing this, I secretly sighed in relief. I figured I wouldn’t waste time being assigned something like Squad Leader of Ten.

 

“Still, your stance was quite good, and your strength was properly applied.”

“Better than most senior soldiers. You could be made Squad Leader of Ten, couldn’t you? The Recruitment Officer mentioned it too.”

“You were from Belive Territory’s Guard Unit, right? This makes me envious of Belive’s Guard Captain. Having such skilled people. But now there’s no need to be envious.”

“What do you mean…?”

“Now you’re a proud Squad Leader of Ten of Andril.”

 

And so I became a Squad Leader of Ten.

 

It turned out to be a good thing. For several days before recruitment began in earnest, I could use the barracks alone.

 

It was perfect for practicing the Six Arms magic.

 

When I took off my robe, the arms hidden inside revealed themselves.

 

Arms made of bone, extending from my back with slight gaps. Master’s secret technique, the Six Arms, stretched their previously contracted bodies.

 

‘Honestly, this is a bit…’

 

An appearance that naturally felt eerie every time I looked at it. At a glance, it looked like wings, or like looking at spider legs.

 

Indeed, seeing it in books versus reality was different. I endured it thinking of it as Master’s legacy, but if not for that, it would be magic I’d never want to learn.

 

Though it wasn’t a very long time, I don’t think I ever saw anything like this during my time with Master. Perhaps there’s a separate method for hiding them.

 

However, that method wasn’t written in Master’s grimoire. Like Master did, I too had no choice but to continue research through trial and error.

 

“Sigh…”

 

I sighed and slowly moved the arms one by one.

 

It wasn’t easy. Including my original arms, there were eight arms total. Meanwhile, I only had one head to control them all. I clearly understood why Master didn’t increase the number of arms beyond this.

 

If it weren’t controlled using mana, even moving two or three at a time like now would probably be difficult.

 

“Still.”

 

I was gradually improving.

 

Thinking back to when I first attached the arms and struggled with how to move them because I couldn’t get the hang of it, this was tremendous progress.

 

If just a few more days passed like this, wouldn’t it be possible to handle the six newly attached arms like my own body? Of course, using them to form hand seals would be another story entirely.

 

I felt newly regretful that I hadn’t had time to properly learn magic from my Master. If I had at least learned the basic theory of hand seals, it would have been a great help.

 

Swallowing my regret inwardly, I gradually became accustomed to the Six Arms magic.

 

Several days passed like that.

 

The empty barracks filled up with people one by one. Managing the recruits who harbored complaints and fears was entirely my responsibility.

 

It wasn’t difficult.

 

Even the guys who initially looked down on me for appearing young would shut their mouths after receiving just one spear thrust at the training ground.

 

Though not many in number, having subordinates was a novel feeling.

 

Simone occasionally came to mind, but I could quickly erase those thoughts. What he followed wasn’t me but the Demon Lord. Even though these were just a ragtag bunch, this side felt more comfortable for now.

 

When the barracks had filled with people like that.

 

“Tomorrow or the day after… We’ll be deploying soon.”

 

A soldier who had come bringing recruits casually mentioned this. It was finally time to see the face of the bastard who had impersonated my Master.

 

* * *

 

“To think you would come in person. I didn’t expect this.”

“Hmph.”

“The fact that you came like this means I can consider you part of that organization too, right? Witch Melissa.”

 

The woman answered with a disgruntled expression to the Count’s words.

 

“What, is there a problem?”

“Of course not. Our Territory Mage was defeated by that Dark Mage, so our situation wasn’t good. If a high-ranking mage like you joins us, I’d be relieved.”

 

At those words, Melissa’s expression hardened. Having spent a long time with the First Prince and become familiar with noble rhetoric, she could tell.

 

That the Count’s words didn’t carry their literal meaning.

 

The Count was reproaching the entire Dawn Organization, including her. He was saying that despite their obedient cooperation, the damage suffered by his territory was enormous. He was asking how they planned to compensate for this.

 

“That Dark Mage. Sevian, was it? He seems to have a worse personality than I heard.”

“….”

 

Melissa’s expression twisted as if she had eaten shit.

 

She hadn’t come to Andril in person to hear this kind of talk. The scene of some disaster that was vivid every time she closed her eyes. And the traces of magic she had discovered within it.

 

‘Just what kind of magic did he use to make such perfect mana manipulation possible… I only wanted to see it with my own eyes.’

 

However, just because she thought that way didn’t make the damage Andril suffered disappear. Finally, Melissa sighed and raised both hands as she spoke.

 

“That matter… Someone else from the organization will come later. Let’s discuss it then. For now.”

“Right. We should focus on tomorrow’s Dark Mage subjugation.”

“Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, this operation won’t fail.”

“Of course. With Witch Melissa and the Red Tower together, no matter how great that Dark Mage is, what could he do?”

“Red Tower?”

 

Melissa tilted her head briefly at the Count’s unexpected words, then soon understood.

 

Sevian had killed the Red Tower Master’s grandson in Belive Territory. Even though he was a half-abandoned child due to his bad nature, he was still the Tower Master’s blood relative.

 

If the location of the beast was known, it would be strange for the Magic Tower not to step forward.

 

Since the Red Tower mainly researched destructive magic, they had eccentric personalities but were quite reliable in combat. The fact that they had already joined was news the subjugation force couldn’t help but welcome.

 

‘Then was the identity of the power I felt the Red Tower Mages…’

 

The strange power she felt when entering Andril Territory. But Melissa soon shook her head.

 

‘There’s no way those Red Tower guys would handle that kind of mana.’

 

Mana showed different qualities depending on the user. If it were a Red Tower mage’s mana, it would typically be rough and destructive, almost close to raw magical power.

 

But the energy Melissa felt was different.

 

The power that was sharp yet somehow gave a refreshing feeling couldn’t possibly be considered belonging to the Red Tower.

 

“Head Butler! Guide our guest to her room.”

“Yes.”

 

Even after arriving at her room under the Head Butler’s guidance, Melissa’s contemplation didn’t cease.

 

‘I’ve definitely felt this energy somewhere before…’

 

If that power had been weak, she wouldn’t have thought about it this seriously.

 

But the unidentified energy was powerful and numerous enough to be threatening even to her, a mage counted among the kingdom’s finest.

 

At least close to ten in number. It might have felt powerful because of that number. But such unified energy with such powerful force.

 

‘This level of unity wouldn’t be easy even for the same family… Ah.’

 

Melissa’s expression crumpled as she suddenly remembered something.

 

“Elf.”

 

An aura difficult to find easily. An eerie degree of uniformity. For an elf of the Great Forest, these were conditions that made perfect sense at once.

 

Once she thought of their identity, she could be certain. That the identity of the aura felt throughout the territory belonged to elves.

 

‘But why? Elves wouldn’t like mixing among humans.’

 

Elves were the type to hole up in the Great Forest and rarely come out. So much so that the Hero Party’s Elf was more famous as a rare specimen appearing for the first time in a thousand years.

 

Melissa, who had been pondering for a moment, soon shook her head.

 

“Does it matter? If they were planning to cause trouble, they wouldn’t be so openly leaking mana like that.”

 

The mana revealed as if in warning actually meant they had no hostile intentions toward them.

 

And there was no way Count Andril wouldn’t know about something she had sensed immediately upon arriving at the territory. Perhaps the elves had also agreed to join the subjugation.

 

Though it was something Melissa could hardly imagine.

 

“Let’s sleep.”

 

Having finished her thoughts, Melissa felt sudden fatigue. She had pushed herself quite hard to arrive on schedule from the Royal Capital. She needed proper rest for tomorrow’s subjugation as well.

 

Melissa buried herself in the bed without even washing and closed her eyes.

 

However, she couldn’t easily fall asleep.

 

It was because of the anticipation that she would soon see the very person who had left those traces of magic that were still vivid to her.

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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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