I Picked up the Demon King - Chapter 52

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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 52

 

Hadn’t they said they would guide me to where the Elf King was? The place I arrived at under Remal’s guidance was, unexpectedly, underground.

 

‘No, can this even be called underground?’

 

Though I had certainly descended below, what covered the ceiling wasn’t earth but tree roots. Similarly, stone walls covered with roots, and sunlight streaming through gaps here and there made me feel as if I were in the middle of a civilization that had perished thousands of years ago.

 

An atmosphere incomparable to any noble’s residence Jude had ever seen. Rather, it had a natural and harmonious appearance completely unrelated to luxury, even exuding a sense of sanctity.

 

-In the Great Forest, the domain of the Elves, being a king also means being a priest.

‘…A priest?’

-Yes. A priest who serves a dead god. The god here means…

 

The Demon Lord giggled and cut off his words, but it wasn’t difficult to anticipate what followed. He surely meant the World Tree.

 

‘So that’s why it looks like this…’

 

As I continued walking, at some point a wide space came into view. Grass that had grown up to waist height covered the floor, and in the center of it was something that looked like an altar.

 

One Elf was lying there. I slowly walked over and looked at his face. Shadows cast like stains rippled across his face.

 

Perhaps it was because of the beautiful appearance characteristic of Elves. The sight of him lying still like a corpse was like a painting.

 

“…I have brought a guest.”

 

When Remal spoke from a step behind, he opened his eyes.

 

The King quietly rolled only his eyes to look at Jude and smiled.

 

“You’ve come.”

 

When Jude flinched at that eerie sight, he slowly raised his body.

 

“Did I startle you? I’m sorry. I’ve lived for quite a long time, you see. Even by the standards of us Elves.”

 

What could that mean? Jude, who pondered for a moment, recalled that Remal, who had looked particularly young, had shown more pronounced emotional expressions compared to other Elves.

 

“I’m called Jude. I heard you found it.”

“That’s right.”

 

The Elf King answered while sitting on the altar, but perhaps due to the altar’s height, their eye levels were similar.

 

“Sorry for making you wait. Though it’s but a moment to us, was it quite a long time as humans feel it?”

“…No. Not to that extent.”

“That’s fortunate.”

 

The King’s smile deepened, but Jude who saw it couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

 

It was because his expression was quite artificial and unnatural, as if someone who had never smiled in their life was forcibly pulling up the corners of their mouth.

 

“To simply blame it on age…”

 

Thinking of the Demon Lord who was still continuously letting out mocking laughter, it felt like an excuse.

 

The Demon Lord had lived for at least a thousand years, and by inference, several times more than that. No matter how long this Elf King had lived, wouldn’t he be like a child compared to the Demon Lord?

 

-That’s quite a rude thought.

‘…’

-Of course, it’s not wrong, but comparing a mere Elf to the same standard as me is harsh. A cruel story. For that Elf.

 

Jude, who let the Demon Lord’s voice go in one ear and out the other, looked at the Elf King again.

 

Fortunately, the Elf King continued speaking as if he hadn’t noticed Jude’s expression.

 

“While you were inside that thing, many stories were exchanged among us as well. A human absorbed a World Tree Branch… You may not know, but there hasn’t been such an incident in the past several hundred years.”

 

It wasn’t much different from what I had heard from Birutta.

 

For Elves who rarely leave the Great Forest, there might not be many incidents worth calling events. For such people, if news of discovering a World Tree Branch and someone absorbing it were delivered simultaneously, surely an extremely chaotic situation would unfold.

 

Perhaps being trapped in the tree for several days was fortunate. Thanks to that, I could stay one step away from the confusion the Elves experienced.

 

I couldn’t even imagine what I would have experienced if I had just been released among the Elves.

 

“Wait, come over here for a moment.”

 

The Elf King said while patting the spot next to where he was sitting with his hand. Jude, who didn’t sense any particular hostility, took a step closer and stood beside him.

 

The Elf King looked at him for a moment, then smiled again and felt around Jude’s body.

 

Starting from his hands to his arms, shoulders and chest, past his chin to his head.

 

Jude, who was already sufficiently accustomed to such situations, didn’t furrow his brow.

 

“It was a hard-to-believe story, but it was true. I can feel the World Tree’s energy, however faintly.”

-Puhaha…!

 

The Demon Lord burst into loud laughter upon hearing the Elf King’s words.

 

-Still, being a king, he’s quite capable. Unlike some fool who can’t even sense what’s in his own body.

“….”

“Do you know? All Elves are sensitive to the World Tree’s energy. The prevailing hypothesis is that it’s because our origin is the World Tree. The reason we periodically send Tree Searchers to find traces of that being is also for that reason.”

 

As if lost in sentiment, the Elf King brought up various trivial stories for a while.

 

During that time, Jude had to make considerable effort to hear the Elf King’s voice buried under the loud laughter.

 

“…I’ve digressed too long. Let me ask one thing.”

 

The Elf King looked straight at Jude and spoke. His expression and voice were no different from before, but Jude felt that his eyes were gleaming sharply.

 

“The World Tree branch that you absorbed… Could you return it to us?”

“Return it?”

“Yes. That is a divine artifact that should originally be in our possession. It’s also an essential condition for reaching our cherished wish.”

 

The Elves’ cherished wish. That was surely the revival of the World Tree.

 

The Demon Lord had said that their efforts toward their cherished wish were futile. That it was bound to fail as long as there was no spirit of the World Tree.

 

Conversely, that meant it could succeed if only they had the spirit of the World Tree. The Elves surely knew this as well.

 

Considering their yearning for their cherished wish, it wasn’t difficult to predict their reaction if he refused.

 

The Demon Lord had said that by absorbing the spirit of the World Tree, he could win over the Elves, but whether the Elves would actually accept that was something to think about. Rather, accepting their request here and asking for help might be the better choice.

 

“Of course, I’m not just making this request for nothing. Humans are greedy, after all… I promise sufficient compensation.”

 

If they promised sufficient compensation on top of that, there was no reason to refuse. He might be able to learn their techniques and knowledge, including the Elves’ spirit magic.

 

But at the Elf King’s next words, Jude’s thoughts came to a halt.

 

“If you want, you may take one of us. Remal, that child would be fine.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

“There’s nothing to be ashamed of. It’s natural for humans to have lust for Elves.”

 

He reflexively turned his head to look at Remal’s face. Despite hearing such shocking words, she remained motionless with her head bowed.

 

Jude was convinced once again. These guys were definitely crazier fanatics than even those from the Religious Order.

 

“…I refuse.”

“If you feel the compensation is insufficient, please reconsider. The wealth we’ve accumulated over time is by no means small. Even without being attached to material things, it naturally became that way. But you’re human, aren’t you different?”

 

Even with the Elf King’s repeated persuasion, Jude shook his head.

 

In fact, it couldn’t be helped. He didn’t know any method to extract the World Tree branch he had already absorbed. Even if he accepted the proposal out of greed for wealth, it would be exposed soon enough.

 

“I don’t even know how to do it…”

“There’s definitely a method. Don’t underestimate the knowledge of the Elves. It might take some time, but with your cooperation, it’s certainly possible…”

 

Moreover.

 

“Even if I knew how, I have no intention of doing it.”

“…Why is that?”

 

Perhaps it was something that had dulled over hundreds of years of living, or it might simply be a cultural difference between humans and Elves… but the attitude of treating another Elf like an object stimulated Jude’s old memories.

 

Trapped in a narrow box, not even called by a proper name. Not knowing what was wrong, just barely surviving day by day—memories from those times.

 

“Because I don’t like it.”

 

He didn’t like the Elves’ attitude, or more precisely, the Elf King’s attitude.

 

Jude let out a sigh.

 

It wasn’t an impulsive decision made simply because he felt bad. These people were fanatics worse than the Religious Order. There was no possibility of establishing a normal cooperative relationship.

 

Then there was only one method.

 

As originally planned, to completely absorb and dominate the spirit of the World Tree. To become the object of their faith and worship himself.

 

“I see.”

 

The King quietly nodded. As if he felt no anger toward Jude for refusing the proposal.

 

“I don’t know how many times I’ve asked this question, but do you know something?”

 

The same calm tone as before continued. However, looking at his face, Jude felt goosebumps rising on his spine.

 

“Actually, cooperation and such things weren’t necessary.”

 

Right after the Elf King finished speaking.

 

The grass growing all around rapidly grew and lashed out.

 

Jude, who had been prepared, quickly formed hand seals and activated Explosion. Although it didn’t shock the Elf King, it was enough to obscure his vision.

 

“Ice Spirit!”

 

Ice walls that rose up around the altar trapped the Elf King, preventing him from escaping. The King, frowning, gestured to raise more tree branches.

 

Just as he was about to use Deception to escape from his position, some of the tree branches got tangled with others. There were quite a lot of them to be considered the King’s mistake.

 

“This is, Birutta…!”

 

For the first time, the Elf King’s voice filled with agitation. The moment his attention was diverted, sparks flew before his eyes.

 

As soon as he realized the Elf King’s scheme had failed, Remal’s attack followed, which Birutta, appearing from somewhere, blocked.

 

“Filthy traitor. A runaway who rejected glory…!”

“…”

 

Without answering, Birutta quickly attacked Remal.

 

“Ugh…!”

 

Tremendous speed that was hard to follow even with Jude’s enhanced eyes. Remal couldn’t withstand Birutta’s attack and was instantly sent flying.

 

But dealing with Remal wasn’t the end. The roots covering the ceiling began to stir little by little, and the Elves who sensed the commotion would surely come rushing in soon.

 

I had to get out of this place quickly. Otherwise, I would be captured and subjected to endless biological experiments to separate the World Tree Branch.

 

“Excuse me for a moment.”

 

Ignoring Remal who was struggling to get up, Birutta easily lifted Jude into her arms.

 

“How dare you try to interfere! With our cherished wish…!”

“I’m not interfering.”

 

Birutta, who had been about to kick off from the ground, paused for a moment and spoke to the Elf King.

 

“I simply believe there’s a more proper way.”

 

Having finished speaking, Birutta leaped up and escaped through the narrowing gaps between the trees in the ceiling. She moved so quickly that the Elf King’s figure became small in an instant.

 

The enraged King’s roar filled the entire forest.

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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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