I Picked up the Demon King - Chapter 61

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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 61

 

Several months had passed since the second Hero in history defeated the Demon Lord, and the season had turned to winter.

 

In previous years, the streets would have been littered with the corpses of those who couldn’t overcome the cold and hunger, but this year was quite different.

 

It wasn’t that there were no starving people. However, the entire continent had experienced an unprecedented level of abundant harvest. It was such a bountiful harvest that even the serfs, after paying taxes and land rent, didn’t need to worry about food.

 

The bone-chilling cold hadn’t changed, but just not having to go hungry was enough to save many lives.

 

People offered various speculations about the cause of this year’s abundant harvest. The one that received the most support was.

 

“It’s thanks to the Hero.”

 

The shabby inn located on the outskirts was an excellent refuge for city workers. It was one of the few places where you could order cheap beer with inexpensive snacks.

 

The fact that you could talk freely even when drunk without anyone complaining was a bonus. The inn owner, who seemed bored and just yawned, was someone who showed no interest unless a fight broke out between customers.

 

Today too, workers who had finished their daily tasks came in groups of two or three, taking seats and engaging in conversation.

 

“The Hero? Right. Since he defeated the Demon Lord, all the lands tainted by demonic energy must have returned to normal.”

“No, not that Hero.”

 

A worker in worn clothes with an unkempt beard gulped down his beer while speaking, then looked at his colleague beside him with a strange expression.

 

“What do you mean by that? A Hero is a Hero, are you saying there’s another Hero?”

“This guy here is completely clueless.”

 

A worker with a relatively neat appearance chuckled. Even if the other person wasn’t particularly interested in rumors, how could he not have heard about the Hero, which was the biggest topic these days?

 

“Haven’t you heard the story of the Hero of Belive?”

“Belive…?”

“That’s right! Belive.”

 

The worker decided he would gladly share his story with his colleague. The price would be sufficient with today’s drinking money.

 

“It’s a small territory in a kingdom called Balaih, down south.”

“Balaih, you mean that country that was at war with the Holy Nation until recently?”

 

The worker with the bushy beard asked with confusion. His face was flushed red, suggesting he was already quite drunk.

 

“Someone who knows that doesn’t know about the Hero?”

“Come on, stop talking nonsense and tell me quickly!”

 

At the continued dismissive tone, the worker with the bushy beard shouted angrily. His colleague flinched for a moment, then looked around and leaned forward as he spoke.

 

A man at the next table who had been eavesdropping on their conversation with apparent interest quietly leaned toward the workers’ table, but the drunk workers didn’t notice.

 

“A new Hero who thwarted the Holy Nation’s conspiracy, defeated a high-rank Dark Mage, and sent the Holy Nation’s soldiers away with a single shout. His name is…”

 

As the worker continued speaking, the eavesdropping man’s brow furrowed. His lips opened and closed several times as if he had something to say.

 

“Johnny.”

“Johnny? That’s quite a common name.”

“Yes, it’s common… Huh?”

 

The workers’ heads turned to the side. They realized that the voice they heard wasn’t from one of them.

 

“Would you mind telling me that story again?”

 

But it was a different person who had spoken.

 

A pure white robe and bright smile that made one wonder why they hadn’t noticed before, and finally a thick book held in his hand.

 

It wouldn’t be difficult for anyone on the continent to guess the man’s identity.

 

“P-Priest, what brings you here…”

“I heard this inn is famous for its cheap room rates. I’m in a situation where I need to save money for a while. But about that story just now…”

 

Before the priest could finish speaking, the worker with the bushy beard shot up from his seat.

 

“Oh my. Now that I think about it, my wife told me to come home early today.”

“Wait! Let me come with you!”

 

The other worker followed him out, shouting.

 

“Oh dear…”

 

The priest let out a big sigh. Late at night, most of the people who had been gathered at their respective drinking tables had already left. All that remained were the inn owner with a disappointed expression and a single man in robes who had missed his chance to escape.

 

“Hmm?”

 

The priest who sat at the table where the workers had been drinking naturally made eye contact with the man in robes.

 

“…”

“…”

 

The man who had been about to quietly turn his head and get up from his seat froze in place.

 

It was because he saw the priest, who sighed again, down the beer the workers had left behind in one gulp. The priest smiled awkwardly when he noticed the confusion in the man’s eyes.

 

“Does it seem strange? I’m still a priest though. A traveling priest, but still.”

“A traveling priest…?”

 

While the man pondered the priest’s words, he put down the empty glass and sipped from the glass next to it.

 

“The Goddess said not to get drunk on alcohol. That means it’s fine as long as you don’t get drunk, so a beer or two… Don’t look at me like that. I know it’s an excuse too.”

 

The priest spoke with a bitter smile.

 

“These days, no matter where you go, the treatment is like this, so it’s a bit frustrating. …Though it can’t be helped.”

 

Most Priests didn’t treat those without money very well, and currently there were even suspicions that they had declared war to cover up cruel human experiments. The person claiming to be the new Hero had openly criticized the Holy Nation’s forces.

 

“It hasn’t even been a full year since the second Hero defeated the Demon Lord. Normally, talk of a third Hero being born would have been dismissed as mere rumors from ignorant fools.”

 

However, the number of those who witnessed what happened in the Balaih Kingdom was considerable. Soldiers and Mercenaries dispatched from all over the Continent returned to their home countries and made what they had seen the topic of their drinking conversations.

 

That those who were dying regained their strength at the Hero’s holy cry, and that the Holy Kingdom Soldiers lost their divine power.

 

Johnny from Belive Territory was recognized as a Hero that no one could deny, and conversely, in this situation, the legitimacy of the second Hero who remained silent was being questioned.

 

However, those who were naturally affected even more were the Holy Nation and the Priests. While their power and influence hadn’t decreased significantly, distrust of the Religious Order was spreading rapidly among the common people.

 

“What’s fortunate, if anything, is that this is only directed at the Religious Order and Priests. Faith in the Goddess remains firmly rooted in everyone’s hearts.”

“What on earth…”

 

Across from the Priest who was speaking with a bitter smile, the robed man. Jude wore a bewildered expression.

 

He couldn’t understand at all what had happened while he was in the Great Forest.

 

“You must be having a hard time because of those false rumors.”

“…Well. I wonder if they can really be called false rumors.”

“Pardon?”

 

When Jude asked back at the muttering voice as he scratched his head, the Priest waved his hand dismissively.

 

“Ah, no. It’s nothing certain, so please pretend you didn’t hear that. Rather, since we’ve met like this, it’s fate, so let’s at least exchange names. I’m called Alben Mahir.”

“I’m, Jo… I’m called Jude.”

 

Jude, who had unconsciously been about to give his familiar alias, hesitated for a moment before revealing his name.

 

He realized that few people knew his real name, while his alias was now one of the most famous figures on the Continent.

 

“Jo Jude. That’s an unusual name. I’ve never heard of the surname Jude.”

“No. Just Jude.”

“Aha.”

 

Albeng clapped his hands and let out an exclamation, then suddenly stood up from his seat. Then he extended his hand toward Jude, who had pulled back in bewilderment.

 

“In that case, would you like to travel together with me?”

“Travel together?”

 

Wariness appeared on Jude’s face.

 

A Priest suddenly requesting to travel together when they didn’t even know each other’s destinations.

 

No matter how much he was hiding his identity, from Jude’s position as a Dark Mage, this wasn’t a situation he could easily accept.

 

“As I mentioned, I’m a Traveling Priest, so I’m in a position of wandering here and there. But given the recent situation, I’m planning to return to the Empire for a while.”

 

Having said that much, the Priest smiled confidently.

 

“You’re heading to the Empire, aren’t you? It seems like you’re traveling alone without any Companions. No matter how skilled you are, it’s dangerous to be alone. Everyone has moments when they’re defenseless.”

“…How did you know?”

“This City has grown as a trade route with the Empire. Looking at your clothes, it seems you’ve traveled a long distance without rest, and you’re dining alone in this shabby Inn… I was just guessing. If I was wrong, it would just be a little embarrassing.”

 

Jude began to contemplate as he looked at the Priest’s sheepish smile.

 

For him as a Dark Mage, normally the option of traveling with a Priest wouldn’t have existed, but…

 

“Wait a moment.”

 

While Jude was contemplating, the Priest naturally approached the Inn Owner and paid for the food of those who had fled.

 

The Inn Owner smiled awkwardly and declined, saying he could collect it when they came next time, but the Priest repeatedly offered the money. A glimpse of gold could be seen glinting.

 

After the owner accepted the gold coin, Jude looked at the Priest who had returned to his seat and asked.

 

“Didn’t you say you needed to save money?”

“That’s right.”

“Then why…?”

“While it’s true that I need to save money, I shouldn’t create situations where others suffer because of me.”

 

Jude, who had been listening to his words while resting his chin on his hand, soon nodded.

 

“Let’s go together. When we reach the Empire, we can part ways at an appropriate time.”

“Are you sure that’s alright?”

“Yes, well. I also need to save money just the same.”

 

Like others who had faced winter without preparation, Jude’s financial situation wasn’t very good either.

 

It was because he had lost the money pouch he received from Dahan in the battle with Master Sevian in Andril. Even if he hadn’t lost it then, it wouldn’t have made much difference. The battle in the Great Forest had been just as fierce.

 

Of course, it wasn’t simply for that reason.

 

If he continued sleeping outdoors and camping as before, lack of money wouldn’t be a big problem. His body, strengthened through the trials he had passed, could endure winter’s cold as long as he consumed enough calories.

 

What was important was information.

 

Both the conversation the Workers had been having earlier, and information about the many things that had happened while Jude was in the Great Forest was lacking.

 

Albeng seemed like a suitable person to fill in such information for Jude. Not only that, but he could probably hear something about the internal affairs of the Holy Nation and Religious Order as well.

 

After all, Jude was in a position where he would eventually have to defeat the Goddess. Since one of the treasures he needed to find had flowed to the Holy Nation a few months ago, it wouldn’t hurt to listen when he could.

 

And.

 

For some reason, he didn’t feel from Albeng the unpleasantness he had felt from other Priests, Paladins, and even Elves he had met so far.

 

Jude wanted to know what caused that difference. Of course.

 

-Hmm….

 

The Demon Lord, who didn’t hide his displeasure at the choice to accompany the Priests, was also one of the reasons for his decision.

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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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