The Failed Swordmaster - Chapter 118

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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 118 46. Are You Confident? (1)

The elderly man’s appearance was utterly ordinary.

Though his build was quite large for his age, it wasn’t enough to stand out. His clothing was also the kind you could see anywhere on the street. Overall, he gave an impression of faded presence.

However, Lumian couldn’t take his eyes off the elderly man.

A very slight sense of unease that only someone of his level could perceive.

And the evil and ferocity flowing from it.

Lumian was certain.

‘It’s the Demon King!’

It was a shocking situation.

Not that the Demon King had come looking for him. Since he had caused trouble at Red Mountain, it was natural that his identity would be exposed.

What surprised him was ‘how the Demon King could possess such power outside his territory.’

‘Is he a much more powerful Demon King than the previous one? No. It feels more like the human world’s suppressive force doesn’t work on him at all.’

It really was like that. The creature seemed to overflow with power as if he were inside the Demon King’s Castle.

How could that be possible?

While Lumian harbored such doubts, a low voice flowed from the elderly man’s mouth.

“Impressive, truly impressive.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your skill. For a mere human to see through my concealment, even though I’ve made a territorial declaration on imperfect land.”

“Territorial declaration? You made a territorial declaration?”

Lumian looked around in surprise.

However, there were no strange signs. Tarasan Academy was showing its usual late autumn scenery.

He frowned and asked.

“You’re the Demon King after all. What are you scheming? Not only disguising yourself in a human body but also lying.”

“It’s not a lie, child. Hehehehehe.”

The Demon King let out an eerie laugh and snapped his fingers.

Then the subspace bag he was carrying opened, and two chairs, a table, a teapot, and teacups popped out.

Glug glug glug-

Hot tea water poured into the cups one by one.

The Demon King sat down leisurely. With a subtle smile, he gestured to Lumian.

“How about it? Shall we sit and have a chat?”

“…”

“Ah, there’s no need to be so wary. As long as you don’t attack first, I have no intention of causing you any harm until our conversation ends.”

“What are you plotting…?”

“Plotting? There’s no such thing. It’s just my own form of entertainment.”

“Entertainment?”

“Yes. Something like wanting to watch the strongest being in the human world tremble with anxiety and tension for a long time.”

The Demon King reached out and picked up his teacup.

Slurp, after taking a sip of the hot tea, he continued speaking.

“Are you going to keep standing there?”

“…”

“Oh my, you seem quite frightened. It can’t be helped. I’ll promise you in the name of Demon God Javahik. Until tea time ends, I absolutely won’t touch you or this academy. Under the assumption that there’s no threat to my safety, that is.”

“Fine.”

Only then did Lumian nod.

Demons were an untrustworthy race. There were many pathetic ones who would often spout lies even when swearing by the Demon God’s name.

However, a being as great as the Demon King wouldn’t do such a thing.

Thud!

Lumian sat in the chair and stabbed his sword into the ground.

Then he spoke in a dry voice.

“If you have something to say, say it.”

“Good. Then let’s begin. Most of the curiosity you have now will probably be resolved. Though fear and terror will fill that space instead. Kehehehe.”

The Demon King let out an evil laugh and drank his tea again.

Soon, the events of the past 10 years began flowing from his mouth.

* * *

‘So that’s how it happened.’

Lumian nodded after hearing everything the Demon King had to say.

Now he understood. How that creature possessed such strong power. How he could still operate outside the Demon King’s Castle despite that.

‘Making a territorial declaration on a human body…’

Come to think of it, it was a familiar body.

Though the face was completely different, the build was identical to the Sword Master he had seen at the gang hideout. It seemed he had been running around looking for a vessel that could withstand his power.

“Kehehehe. How is it? Your thoughts?”

“…”

“Come now, don’t be so stiff and say something. I’ll answer you with utmost sincerity.”

“…”

“I came here with great anticipation for this time. I don’t want to end it so briefly. Come on, come on! Say something, anything. Let me hear that tension-filled voice!”

“Hmm.”

He could roughly guess why the Demon King had kindly explained the situation.

This bastard wanted to enjoy seeing him frightened.

The idea of a Demon King suddenly appearing when unprepared had been nothing but absurd talk until now.

It was natural. Demon Kings could only command subordinates and grant power from within the Demon King’s Castle. The power restrictions were too severe for them to come outside.

Unless chaos deepened and the entire human world became corrupted, but that had never happened before.

In the end, all the humans that previous Demon Kings had faced were the strongest forces of their time, and ones who were perfectly prepared in mind and body at that.

‘The side that had always lived being defeated by prepared humans now found their position reversed to being the one who prepared alone and launched a surprise attack.’

Thinking of it that way, it was perfectly understandable.

Even he would want to enjoy the current situation.

However, not everything about the Demon King’s words and actions was comprehensible.

Lumian scratched his cheek with his left hand and asked the Demon King a question in a calm voice.

“Since you told me to say anything, I’ll ask a few questions.”

“Good, kehehe! What are you curious about, human?”

“You, what makes you so confident?”

“…?”

The Demon King’s expression hardened.

The corners of his mouth that had been split to his ears dropped slightly, and his crescent-shaped eyes returned to normal.

He asked back.

“What did you say?”

“Why are you so overflowing with confidence? What, do you think you’ve already won? Do I seem funny to you? Huh?”

“…”

The Demon King was at a loss for words.

Not because he was convinced by Lumian’s words. It was because he was dumbfounded.

‘What is this bastard saying?’

Of course the kid was strong.

Unbelievably strong for someone not even 20 years old. The level he had shown at Red Mountain was so high that it would be impossible even if he had been born holding a sword.

But he was still human.

It meant he was a fragile and insignificant being who could only be powerless before a Demon King with no power restrictions.

“Ha, I’m so flabbergasted I can’t speak.”

The Demon King didn’t want to explain this in detail.

He was just annoyed. It felt like his pleasant mood had been thrown into the mud.

However, Lumian’s words weren’t finished.

“Ah, was it because my expression was stiff? Is that it?”

“…”

“That could be it. But don’t misunderstand. It wasn’t because I was scared of you, but because I was worried you might have visited someone else before me.”

“You bastard!”

“I clearly said I was first, right? Good, that settles it. Now all my worries are cleared up… Ah, can I ask just one more thing?”

“…Speak.”

The Demon King asked while grinding his teeth.

Tea time was already over. There was still tea left, but no one paid it any attention.

They were simply burning with deep-rooted hatred for each other.

Then, one corner of Lumian’s mouth lifted up as provocative words spilled out.

“How many more do I have to clear out before it’s over? It’s not like when I kill you, another Demon King will immediately pop up and start causing trouble, right?”

“You vermin of a human! Your arrogance knows no bounds!”

Crash!

The Demon King slammed his fist down on the table.

Then, as if space had been deleted, everything between them completely disappeared.

It was a chilling sight.

He truly could be called the king of the Demon Realm. A terrifying strength that could never be contained by the distinctions of Sword Experts and Sword Masters that humans praised so highly could be felt.

However, the Demon King wasn’t the only one with power transcending humans.

“No, this can’t be…!”

The Demon King’s expression hardened stiffly.

This wasn’t the reaction of looking at a being far beneath him and thinking ‘not bad.’ He had a face filled with shock, as if his thoughts up until now had been completely overturned.

He had no choice but to react this way.

The human before his eyes hadn’t suffered even the slightest damage. In a state where truly not even a hair had been harmed, he was looking at him with a smiling face.

That wasn’t all.

Before he knew it, aura flowing from his hands was surrounding the area. It wasn’t just released formlessly, but had taken solid form like aura coating a Swordmaster’s blade.

Thanks to this, neither sound nor impact spread outside Tarasan Academy at all.

The Demon King showed a surprised expression upon realizing this.

“This is… what on earth…”

“Why. A little different from what you thought?”

“…”

“Your subordinate, what was his name… Anyway, surprised that I became much stronger than what was assessed at Red Mountain? For a mere human? So… are you so scared that you’re frozen to the point you can’t even answer my question?”

The Demon King didn’t answer.

He had no intention of playing along with that bastard’s tune anymore.

To be more precise, he no longer had the luxury to do so, but he wouldn’t admit it.

The king of the Demon Realm couldn’t accept the fact that he was nervous about a mere human, and a youngster who hadn’t even reached adulthood at that.

Whoosh-!

An even stronger aura rose from his body.

His eyes that had looked human turned completely black, the whites disappearing. Two horns resembling those of a goat sprouted from his head, and a pair of wings emerged from his back.

Lumian, who had been leisurely watching the Demon King’s transformation process, opened his mouth.

“I guess you think it won’t work either. You can’t answer because you know you’ll lose, right?”

“Shut up, lowly creature! I’ve decided! You will never die peacefully! I’ll pull out your tongue, gouge out your eyes, cut off your ears! After slowly peeling off your skin, I’ll pickle you in demonic energy for a long time in agony…”

“Since you don’t seem to have any intention of answering, I guess I’ll just have to start.”

It was before the enraged Demon King finished speaking.

Lumian, who had briefly muttered to himself, drew the sword he had stuck in the ground.

And moved right up to the Demon King’s nose.

Swish-

“Hup!”

The Demon King showed a startled expression.

Lumian’s speed far exceeded expectations. He reflexively swung his fist.

But nothing connected. It was natural. As a Demon King who hadn’t yet drawn out 100 percent of his power, he couldn’t keep up with his opponent’s movements.

Crash!

Lumian, who had quickly lowered his stance, kicked the Demon King hard.

At a high angle as if trying to send him flying to the sky. The Demon King who was hit by this shot helplessly high into the air.

“Grrrk! This bastard…!”

Swish!

Crash!

That wasn’t the end.

Lumian, who had somehow caught up to the flying Demon King, kicked him again.

It was a very stable posture as if he were on the ground. And for good reason, perfectly formed aura was created beneath Lumian’s feet.

“Haah!”

Boom!

Lumian, who had kicked off the solid aura, shot forward again. Wherever he stepped, aura gathered to serve as stepping stones.

A mystical sight like running through the sky!

In that state, he kicked the Demon King five more times, and only stopped that action when they reached a location far from the city.

Thud!

Lumian, who had landed on the ground, looked around and said.

“Hmm, this place looks good.”

“Grrrr…”

“You’re okay with it too, right? It’s open, and there’s no one to interfere. If we had fought back there, several people might have gotten hurt.”

“You… vermin… bastard…!”

The Demon King, who had flown ahead and was buried in the ground, walked out through the dust cloud.

His entire body was dyed black. Demonic energy rising like heat haze contaminated the surroundings.

Watching that disgusting sight, Lumian frowned, when a roar burst from the Demon King’s mouth.

“Playtime is over, human! Now that I’ve revealed my true form, you won’t be able to rest even a single hair in peace!”

“That won’t do.”

Lumian raised his sword. Aura surging from his body flowed along the blade and took form.

Among the pouring petals, a calm voice flowed out.

“I haven’t even done it once yet, so I can’t die already.”

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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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