I Picked up the Demon King - Chapter 93

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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 93

 

The grand worship was, honestly, a boring time.

 

For me, who didn’t know a single letter about the Religious Order’s doctrine, it was full of incomprehensible stories, and occasionally even what they claimed was disconnected from reality.

 

Was I listening with a biased ear because I’m a Dark Mage?

 

The others gathered around seemed moved. There were even some shedding tears. No matter how I thought about it, it didn’t seem to warrant that level of reaction.

 

-It’s because of the Holy Power.

 

The Demon Lord said.

 

-Holy Power makes the body and mind comfortable. It lowers resistance and makes one accept what’s being said positively. Even if they had been praising demons up there, it wouldn’t have been much different. Of course, the moment they leave this place, they’d feel something was strange.

 

To directly influence the mind – that’s not easy even with magic. According to the Demon Lord, it must be due to the special properties that only Holy Power possesses.

 

But then, why am I not affected by it?

 

-Well, it’s because your soul has grown that much.

 

The Demon Lord’s explanation was that having absorbed multiple souls and increased in size, I was somewhat free from the mental influence of Holy Power.

 

Also, since Holy Power is a force derived from the Goddess’s divinity, it would naturally have less effect on me who now possessed even a small Divine Seed.

 

However, I couldn’t help but be amazed anew at the Holy Nation’s power.

 

If Holy Power had this effect even now when it was much weaker than before, what kind of mental influence did it have during its prime? It’s impossible to even imagine.

 

“Next, His Holiness the Pope will say a few words.”

 

My scattered attention focused on the platform again.

 

From behind the platform, an old man who had such little presence I didn’t even know he was there rose from his seat. He was an old man who moved slowly and weakly. Even so, an infinitely benevolent smile floated on his face like a painting.

 

“Ah, greetings. Fellow believers.”

 

I lowered my head to avoid making eye contact with the old man who was slowly looking around.

 

The Pope. The undisputed master of the Holy Nation. Excluding the Saint and Hero, he was the one closest to the Goddess.

 

No matter how defenseless he appeared on the outside, the Holy Power he possessed was tremendous. Even with Holy Power that lacked offensive capabilities, with that amount, it seemed like he could do anything.

 

“Today, I wish to share one piece of bad news with you all.”

 

The Pope spoke in a somber tone.

 

Bad news at such an occasion? People began to murmur quietly.

 

However, the Pope continued speaking without trying to quiet the people.

 

“Some of you may already know through rumors.”

 

Rumors.

 

I had an idea of what story he would tell.

 

“About half a year ago, the Goddess bestowed upon us an oracle. The reason we didn’t reveal the oracle’s contents is simple. The content was so shocking.”

 

It must be about the Demon Lord’s resurrection. Because of those rumors, the Religious Order didn’t dismiss Jude as completely fake.

 

No matter how much rumors had spread, the Pope’s direct announcement carried different weight. Why was he talking about this at this moment? Was this the important schedule Albeng had mentioned?

 

“In the Lowest Land, a new Demon Lord has been born.”

 

For a moment, it felt like my breath stopped.

 

People stirred incomparably more than before, and some even jumped up from their seats, but I had no room to pay attention.

 

That the Goddess and Religious Order knew about the Demon Lord was something I had heard from Albeng before.

 

But.

 

‘A new Demon Lord?’

 

Not “the Demon Lord has been resurrected,” but “a new Demon Lord has been born.” It seemed like the oracle wasn’t referring to the Demon Lord I had picked up.

 

“Our Religious Order has done its best to pursue and destroy the Demon Lord. Declaring a holy war was also one of those efforts. We believed that if we tried, we could defeat the Demon Lord.”

 

Once again, Holy Power spread out. The murmuring people became quiet.

 

“The Goddess sent a new Hero to scold us that this was wrong thinking. Our job is to become a foundation for his sword to grow sufficiently. Nothing has changed from what we’ve always done.”

 

The concentration of Holy Power only grew thicker. Holy Power incomparable to before filled the space. The surroundings looked hazy white, and it was suffocating.

 

I felt dizzy.

 

Who was emitting this Holy Power? It wasn’t the Pope. Someone standing behind him…

 

-It’s the Saint.

 

The woman with her face covered. Tremendous Holy Power was emanating from the Saint.

 

People shed tears. They confess their sins and scream.

 

The Demon Lord had said that Hero Ruin Epeldor’s companion, Kaella Rowan, had the talent to stimulate human desires and control them as she wished.

 

But look.

 

Without saying a word, just by emanating holy power alone, thousands of people shed tears. No matter how excellent Kaela Rowan’s eloquence might be, such a feat would clearly be impossible.

 

The Pope raised his voice. Even amid thousands of people shouting simultaneously, his voice could be heard clearly.

 

“To this place now, a new sword of the Goddess has come.”

 

The moment that cry reached its peak, everyone simultaneously closed their mouths.

 

The sudden silence sent chills down my spine. I waited for the Pope’s next words, hearing only someone’s rough breathing.

 

“Johnny. Please come forward.”

 

Johnny, with a stern expression, stepped onto the platform together with Shtidy.

 

As Johnny knelt down, the Pope moistened his hand with holy water and placed it on Johnny’s head.

 

“Through Hero Johnny, the Goddess will subjugate monsters throughout the continent, and the new Demon Lord will be no different.”

 

It was strange.

 

Monsters throughout the continent? Several months had already passed since the Second Hero defeated the Demon Lord.

 

From what I heard while staying at the Magic Tower, he had traveled the continent defeating monsters before setting out to subjugate the Demon Realm. Now only monsters not even corrupted by demonic energy should remain.

 

In the first place, wasn’t Johnny someone the Dawn Order put forward to bring down the Holy Nation? Why would the Pope directly cooperate with them? Was there some kind of deal between the two?

 

When I opened my eyes at the Lord’s Castle of Andril, Prince Ator Balaih told me. The Dawn Order was an organization to drive out the Goddess and create a human world.

 

No matter how secretly they operated, the head of the Holy Nation couldn’t possibly be unaware of the Dawn Order’s existence or purpose. Would it even make sense to join hands with those who sought to drive out their own god?

 

Everything was strange.

 

“I am Johnny, the Hero.”

 

Johnny said.

 

It seemed there had been quite a lot of changes in him over the past few months. It was quite different from how he stammered at the exchange meeting.

 

His body had become sturdy as if he had trained steadily, and his voice carried strength. If you didn’t know better, he really looked like a Hero.

 

“According to the Goddess’s command, I will become the sword that strikes down the Demon Lord.”

 

The Pope stepped back from Johnny, who silently said only those words and stopped speaking.

 

The Pope’s steps headed right next to him. To where Shtidy was sitting.

 

When Shtidy received the Pope’s gaze, she spoke slowly.

 

“I’m Shtidy the Mage.”

 

I thought as I watched him moisten Shtidy’s head with holy water.

 

Shtidy’s voice was different from before. It wasn’t the voice that was always mixed with fatigue but bright and energetic. The sunken voice made even the listener feel chilled.

 

However, the Pope didn’t care about such things and returned to his position to speak.

 

“Our Religious Order wholeheartedly supports the journey of Hero Johnny and his companion Shtidy. Therefore, we have selected the most faithful priest to help him from the closest position.”

 

People’s gazes focused on the Pope. The Pope smiled with satisfaction and pointed to one side with his hand. From the opposite direction where Johnny and Shtidy had come, one man slowly walked out.

 

In the end.

 

Would it come to this in the end?

 

“Albeng. Albeng Mahir.”

 

My prediction was so accurate that I couldn’t even let out a bitter laugh.

 

“True faith shall be shown through actions, not words. As a descendant of the First Saint and the Pope, he recently returned safely after completing his priestly training, thus proving his faith.”

 

Just as the unnamed Dawn Order Assassin had said, Albeng had immediately established himself as the core of the Religious Order.

 

Though he might not have any authority now as the Hero’s companion. The moment he returns after defeating the Demon Lord, he would sit in a position no one could ignore.

 

“He helped those in trouble. He guided those who had taken the wrong path. Without regard for his own suffering, he worked hard to raise the Goddess’s name throughout the continent.”

 

Considering that his ancestor, the First Saint, was elevated to Pope, it wouldn’t be strange if the same thing happened.

 

Of course….

 

That would be the story if Johnny was really the Hero.

 

‘What does this mean?’

 

I immediately questioned the Demon Lord. I had the intuition that when strange things happened, pointing to the Demon Lord was the right answer.

 

-What are you talking about?

‘That the fake Hero and all his companions are somehow connected to me.’

-I don’t know what you’re talking about.

 

But the Demon Lord made excuses.

 

-Yes. All of them are acquainted with you. But what did I do in that process?

 

His attitude was so confident that I almost thought I might be wrong.

 

-You should know. I didn’t do anything. I was just quietly trapped inside you. Even I can’t do anything in this state.

 

When I thought about it, it wasn’t entirely wrong. I didn’t know much about Shtidy and Albeng, but Johnny being treated as a Hero was because I had impersonated his name.

 

‘So you’re saying all of this is just coincidence?’

 

That was truly absurd.

 

I was about to press the Demon Lord again, but the Demon Lord spoke in a rarely serious voice.

 

-That doesn’t seem to be what you should be worrying about right now.

 

Suddenly, intense light poured out from the Saint who had been standing behind the Pope. As if what I had felt before was just a joke, concentrated Holy Power overflowed.

 

People knelt down and bowed their heads. They muttered incomprehensible sounds. I was the only one standing properly. Even Remal couldn’t endure it and knelt down.

 

So as not to stand out too much, I also slowly placed my knees on the ground. At that moment, the Saint’s mouth opened.

 

-My …children.

 

It was a terrible sound.

 

It was muffled as if shouting toward a blocked wall, and crackled as if coming through a damaged crystal orb.

 

Above all, it didn’t seem human.

 

-…now in this …place, that bastard… is here. Find him and…

 

That’s why I could guess. It was the Goddess’s voice.

 

People seemed to find that sound pleasant, their faces showing expressions as if they were in ecstasy. Foul smells spread from here and there.

 

I frowned while focusing on the Goddess’s words.

 

-Kill him.

 

The Goddess said that.

 

It was an oracle.

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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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