I Picked up the Demon King - Chapter 57

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 57

 

Six Arms.

 

Due to its bizarre appearance and the mental burden on the caster, Sevian, who developed this magic, was treated as a Dark Mage and expelled from the Magic Tower.

 

Perhaps Sevian’s poor social skills were the problem. Of course, the eccentric behavior and human experiments he conducted during that process were also discovered… but such human experiments weren’t particularly rare in the Magic Tower.

 

Anyway, that became the catalyst that drove Sevian to rampage. It collapsed the ethical views that had suppressed his inner self, and in just over ten years transformed the Magic Tower’s promising talent into a High-rank Dark Mage that no one could ignore.

 

Six Arms Magic is an incredible magic that allows one to perceive and manipulate external materials as if they were bodily organs. It was thanks to this that Sevian could freely control the World Tree Branch as if it were his own limbs.

 

This was the information Jude could obtain through Sevian’s Grimoire.

 

Jude at that time had admired his Master’s talent, but couldn’t help but be inwardly appalled by the completed form.

 

The sight of six arm bones with flesh half-stripped off, created by clumsy handiwork, was nothing but grotesque no matter how favorably one tried to view it.

 

The same was true now. The tree branches that emerged by tearing through living flesh had muscles and flesh clinging to them in clumps. If not for the life force remaining in the branches pouring into his body simultaneously with using Spirit Summoning, he would have died instantly.

 

Jude’s face contorted greatly as he staggered and endured the pain.

 

“Oh, aah, ooh…!”

 

In contrast, the Elf King let out an incomprehensible exclamation.

 

His body, which had been tensed as if ready to charge at any moment, stiffened in a different sense. Not only the Elf King, but all the Elves gathered in this place showed the same appearance.

 

It was such a bizarre sight that Jude, whose wounds had healed and pain had subsided, unconsciously contorted his face even more and stepped back.

 

“What is this now…”

-Haha, what a spectacle.

 

The Demon Lord spoke with an admiring laugh.

 

-It’s not such a strange thing. They’ve witnessed a fragment of the purpose their entire race has devoted their lives to pursuing. The ecstasy when they instinctively realized that only one step remains ahead, that even that could be finished any day now… would be more intense than any sexual pleasure those creatures have ever experienced.

 

Rarely, what was contained in the Demon Lord’s laughter was not contempt. It was quite similar to the laughter he always made before anything happened to me. Only then could I understand the emotion the Demon Lord harbored.

 

It was anticipation.

 

Anticipation for the moment when the opponent’s happiness and hope would turn into pain and despair. Ecstasy. It was essentially no different from what the Elves felt when witnessing the World Tree Power.

 

Perhaps every moment is nothing but amusement to the Demon Lord. Even the process of dying himself, having his soul shattered into pieces and parasitically surviving in a lowly human.

 

“…”

 

The thought that arose felt alien. However, there was no time to worry about it. The Elf King, whose face had flushed, came to his senses.

 

Jude bit his lips irritably.

 

‘I missed the opportunity because of useless thoughts.’

 

What if he had ambushed them before they came to their senses? It might have been futilely blocked, but he might have been able to kill the King surprisingly easily.

 

If so, the situation would have become much easier.

 

“Beautiful. But…”

 

An expression as if still not fully awake from a dream. However, the Elf King didn’t hide the anger that flowed out faintly.

 

“That’s not something mere humans should handle.”

“What an utterly racist statement. Impious too.”

“The World Tree Power has awakened, but it can’t be considered fully resurrected. Then still…”

 

While appropriately responding to the Elf King’s words, he surveyed the surroundings.

 

The movement of the tree walls that had been gradually closing in had stopped. That was a positive change. However, there was no sign that the Elves would submit to him as Birutta had said.

 

-Well, we missed the right timing.

 

If he had succeeded in awakening the World Tree Power before the Elf bastards took direct action, the story would have been different.

 

Now it was too late.

 

Awakening the World Tree Power after attacking Jude made the Elves think they had attacked the World Tree’s representative themselves.

 

The Elves had become blasphemers. It was sufficient reason for the rationalization characteristic of fanatics to operate. The Elves regarded Jude as an enemy to protect their own beliefs.

 

Not only that, they had to deny that what their entire race couldn’t achieve even by clinging together was simply accomplished by a human they had despised as inferior. Otherwise, beyond their lives, the history of the Elf race would lose its value.

 

Of course, not all of them would be like that.

 

He could see some of the Elves gradually coming to their senses hesitating and backing away.

 

It would be hard to expect they chose conscience over rationalization. They had given up on choosing in the sudden confusion. Most had young appearances. They would be among the younger ones even among Elves.

 

‘Though they’ve probably lived several times longer than me.’

 

He couldn’t be completely relieved. Being young, they would inevitably be greatly influenced by the words and actions of the leaders they usually trusted and followed.

 

Even if they backed away for now, it was right to judge them as potential enemies.

 

Jude frowned.

 

‘Again. The flow of thought is alien.’

 

In moments when situations flow urgently, experiencing brain rotation faster than usual was something he had often experienced.

 

However, even considering that, the current flow of thought was quite alien. In Jude’s opinion, he wasn’t someone who could evaluate others’ values and beliefs as if he knew them well.

 

That was due to Jude’s lack of experience, not ability.

 

For him, who had spent most of his life without interacting with others, other people were nothing more than strangers.

 

However, Jude immediately shook his head.

 

‘That’s not important right now.’

 

What was immediately important was getting out of here.

 

“Remarkable. When I saw you last time, you couldn’t detect the World Tree’s power dwelling within you at all. It was a human limitation.

“I’m somewhat exceptional.”

 

Jude said, glaring at the Elf King’s face for a moment.

 

“I see. From the beginning, you never served the World Tree.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You’re different from other Elves. You see it as a tool to use, not something to have faith in and worship.”

 

The Elf King defended himself with a bewildered expression.

 

“You must have guessed. I was trying to use even my own life for the World Tree’s resurrection. If I considered our god a tool, would I have done such a thing?”

“Then kneel right now. Prove your devotion.”

 

Jude sneered at the Elf King as if he found him ridiculous. A similar sneer appeared on the Elf King’s face, which had been filled with indignation just moments before.

 

“That’s impossible. How could I serve a mere human as a god?”

 

The current conversation was clearly an unfavorable topic for the Elf King. The Elves who seemed ready to rush at Jude at any moment hesitated. The more his blasphemous words and actions continued, the more the Elves remaining on his side would defect.

 

But rather than silencing Jude, the King only laughed mockingly and played along.

 

‘He doesn’t care how the other Elves feel.’

 

Jude quickly voiced his emerging thoughts.

 

“Your goal is to become a god yourself. If you become a sacrifice for the World Tree’s resurrection along with me, that goal will be achieved.”

 

Awakening the power within Jude through normal methods and resurrecting the World Tree would have required much time and research even for the Elves.

 

However, his lifespan was running short. Therefore, he tried to substitute his goal by becoming part of the World Tree. It was the King’s twisted obsession with the World Tree and power.

 

If only he could obtain a fully awakened World Tree branch, the Elves’ dissatisfaction and doubts would lose their value. All that would remain would be absolute obedience to the new god’s representative who held both justification and legitimacy.

 

“But…”

 

If Jude, having fully awakened the World Tree’s power, were to reign as the Elves’ god, he would instantly fall to being an ordinary individual.

 

Considering they were already enemies, it was obvious he wouldn’t be able to maintain even a religious leader’s position, let alone being king.

 

“Indeed. Your insight has improved greatly. I knew short-lived species grow quickly, but… did you have that much time and opportunity? You seem like a completely different person.”

“…I’m in my growth period.”

“You continue to joke. I know well about humans. The growth period is…”

“It’s not a joke. I’m only fifteen now.”

 

The Elf King’s expression hardened for a moment.

 

“Hmm, yes. You’re quite mature for a short-lived species.”

-Kuhuh. He got you there.

 

Jude, who grimaced irritably at the Demon Lord’s mockery, moved the tree attached to his back and activated magic.

 

An Explosion burst right in front of the Elf King’s nose, but Jude’s expression didn’t relax.

 

‘Tree roots that sprouted instantly blocked the attack.’

 

As soon as he sensed mana moving, he used Spirit Magic to block it.

 

An Elf with senses several times superior, having accumulated quick wit through a life lived near its limits. It wouldn’t be easy to break through. Jude didn’t feel disappointed and silently checked his condition.

 

‘Forming seals is definitely less burdensome.’

 

Drawing magic circles instantly using mana was Jude’s specialty that other mages couldn’t imitate.

 

However, drawing incredibly complex magic circles through mana manipulation, which was already difficult, inevitably brought serious mental burden.

 

Moreover, they were volatile, disappearing after a single use.

 

Forming seals was different.

 

While manipulating external organs that didn’t originally exist wasn’t easy either, it didn’t require complex movements.

 

Magic activation was possible just by maintaining a set form. The hands didn’t disappear after use. As long as mana could keep up, it felt like he could do it all day long.

 

“Didn’t you want to have a conversation?”

 

As the explosion’s smoke cleared, the Elf King’s figure leaning against a tree was revealed. His brow was deeply furrowed as if the sudden attack had been unpleasant.

 

The conversation with the Elf King had thrown the Elves into confusion. If only the King were eliminated, the Elves would submit to Jude. Conversely, if Jude died, the Elf King would accept the World Tree’s power and reign as the eternal god of the Elves.

 

Jude recalled Birutta’s face as she bled and died.

 

His aversion to blind fanaticism wasn’t much different now. But exploiting such people for his own desires was even more distasteful.

 

“I’m ready.”

 

He said with a crooked smile.

 

The King was said to be one of exceptional talent even among the Elves. Having lived for nearly a thousand years, he would be a formidable opponent even if he had simply been idle all that time.

 

That possibility was slim. He was a more powerful opponent than anyone Jude had faced so far.

 

But it wasn’t as if there was no way to deal with him. Master Sevian had left Jude many things even in death.

 

The skeletal branches attached to his back branched out and expanded.

 

Most of the vast life force that Sevian had gathered by massacring the soldiers had already been lost, but the remaining amount could hardly be called small.

 

Leaving only a minimal amount for emergencies, he converted all of it into mana. Feeling the enormous mana he had never handled before seething within his body, Jude spoke.

 

“Divine Punishment.”

 

It was quite contradictory words to come from a Dark Mage’s mouth.

 

Jude, who thought so himself, had a smile cross his lips. The Elf King also laughed as if finding it absurd.

 

“Divine Punishment, you say. Is this what you mean by that?”

 

The sky rapidly darkened.

 

The massive tree hundreds of meters tall, the ‘Divine Tree’, tilted as it was and came crashing down toward Jude.

 

The violence of enormous weight struck the ground.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————