The Failed Swordmaster - Chapter 176

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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 176 68. An Unexpected Ally (1)

 

“This can’t be… this can’t be.”

 

Rudka, a Duke of the Demon Realm and head of one of the 108 Clans called ‘Abyss Chasm’. He muttered in a voice filled with despair.

 

“A eunuch… I’ve become a eunuch!”

 

His face was utterly miserable. It wasn’t because of physical pain. Of course, it hurt indescribably since his manhood had been crushed without a trace, but the mental anguish was far greater.

 

He screamed once more, with an even louder voice.

 

“I’ve become a eunuch!”

 

Before such Rudka approached the enemy of the Demon Realm, Lumian Calard.

 

A face cold as ice.

 

An atmosphere as if his entire body was made of sharp blue blades. Even in his completely shattered mental state, he felt tremendous fear.

 

‘How can this be possible? How, how can he display such tremendous power in the Demon Realm, not even the Human Realm?’

 

He couldn’t understand it at all.

 

He had already heard information about Lumian Calard from Sekaros, the Son of the Demon Lord. That the hero’s greatest power came from the faith and wishes of humans filling the Human Realm, and therefore, when dragged into the Demon Realm with his power supply cut off, he absolutely couldn’t show any remarkable performance.

 

On the other hand, the power of demons like himself was incomparably superior compared to when they were in the Human Realm, so no matter how great a hero of all time he was, he didn’t think he could do anything to him.

 

That’s what he thought until just moments ago.

 

‘But what is this difference!’

 

He couldn’t accept it. He didn’t want to acknowledge it.

 

Of course, such thoughts were utterly useless in reversing the current situation.

 

Eventually, Lumian Calard, who had been maintaining silence, opened his mouth.

 

“How do you feel?”

 

“…What?”

 

“I asked how you feel. How does it feel to lose something you’ve cherished until now, something more precious than all the gold and silver treasures in the world, more than delicious delicacies, more than sweet power – that’s what I’m asking.”

 

“You bastard!”

 

Was that supposed to be a question?

 

It was absurd. He felt extremely disgusted. No, beyond disgusted, he felt hatred for him penetrating to his very bones.

 

Rudka quickly opened his mouth. He wanted to hurl the most vicious curses he knew, to let him know how terrible his feelings were.

 

But Lumian was half a beat faster.

 

A voice as cold as winter frost flowed from his mouth.

 

“That’s how I feel.”

 

“…What?”

 

“That’s exactly how I feel right now. How could this be possible? No matter if you’re demons, no matter if you’re a different race, no matter if you’re enemies… between men, shouldn’t there be a minimum line that must be kept?”

 

Whoooosh-!

 

Aura rose from his body once again.

 

It was hot. It wasn’t his usual balanced aura. It was an aura like an active volcano filled with killing intent.

 

That’s right. The driving force moving Lumian now was hatred toward the demons.

 

That pure anger had awakened new power within him.

 

Just individual power? Wasn’t it insignificant compared to the combined power of all the continent’s people?

 

Not at all. At least the emotion filling his heart now was greater than all the wishes that humanity sent to him combined.

 

It was the rage of a unfortunate man who had experienced the life of a eunuch twice, not once but twice.

 

Added to that, the power he had received from his acquaintances just before entering the Demon Realm was still not exhausted, so no matter how much this was his own backyard, a mere Duke couldn’t do anything to Lumian.

 

Of course, he didn’t know that fact.

 

And today, he never dreamed he would suffer such a miserable fate.

 

He hadn’t even intended to harm the hero. He only intended to convey Lord Sekaros’s message!

 

Moreover, he wasn’t the one who cast the curse!

 

He shouted at the top of his lungs with a face full of anger and injustice.

 

“You damn bastard! Where did we say we’d make you live as a eunuch for life! Didn’t we say we wanted to talk, to have a conversation! It would surely be a beneficial proposal for you too, so how could you commit such a terrible act without even listening!”

 

“…”

 

“I was going to give you everything. Lord Sekaros was going to give you the position of his right hand. Power unimaginable in the Human Realm, precious treasures, and even beautiful succubi! If only you would defect to the Demon Realm, if only you would become the vanguard of the invasion of the Human Realm, he was going to remove the curse and give you all pleasures…”

 

“Hey.”

 

Lumian muttered lowly.

 

It wasn’t a loud voice. But Duke Rudka had no choice but to shut his mouth.

 

He felt a calmly refined, and therefore more terrifying killing intent. He waited for Lumian’s next words with trembling eyes, unable even to swallow his saliva.

 

“I am a hero. I don’t think I have the character befitting a hero, but at least I won’t do something like betray humanity for my personal gain. No matter what you take hostage to threaten me.”

 

“…”

 

“And let me ask you one thing.”

 

“…What, what is it!”

 

“If someone came to your house and cut off your manhood with a sword and took it away, then said they’d reattach it if you listened to them well… such a proposal.”

 

“…”

 

“What kind of reaction would you show upon hearing such an absurd proposal? No matter what great compensation they offered… wouldn’t it be natural to feel offended?”

 

“…Damn it! I opposed it! I opposed it at first!”

 

Tears fell from Rudka’s eyes. That’s right. No matter how much of a demon he was, he too had felt resistance to Sekaros’s scheme this time.

 

Any creature with manhood, any male, had no choice but to have such feelings. Lumian, who felt his sincerity, also softened his expression slightly.

 

But it couldn’t be helped.

 

The conflict between him and the demons had already reached an irreversible point.

 

He drew his sword and said.

 

“It would be better to go cleanly than to live as a eunuch.”

 

“…Kill me.”

 

“You should have opposed your superior more strongly. Farewell.”

 

Slash-!

 

Lumian’s sword fell. The head of Duke Rudka, contorted in pain, also fell and rolled on the floor.

 

And just then, demons who sensed something strange opened the door and entered the Duke’s room. Looking closely, they were the subordinates who had guided him here.

 

“Oh no!”

 

“Your Grace!”

 

“You bastard! How dare you do this to Duke Rudka…”

 

“Come to think of it, you guys were still here. Perfect timing. I had something to ask you.”

 

Lumian grinned wickedly.

 

Perhaps because of those last words, when he killed Duke Rudka, there had been some regret in his heart. Because of that, he had momentarily forgotten the content he absolutely had to ask about. It was clearly a mistake.

 

But it was fine. There were plenty of subordinates to question.

 

Moreover, he felt not the slightest reluctance about torturing those subordinates.

 

‘I cannot forgive those who mock eunuchs.’

 

A flash of light burst from Lumian’s eyes.

 

The demons who felt tremendous pressure simultaneously released their aura, but it was already too late.

 

Slash slash slash-

 

The sword in Lumian’s hand swept horizontally, and ten objects fell to the floor with thuds.

 

They let out terrible screams.

 

“Aaaaaargh!”

 

“My, my pleasure!”

 

“My manhood!”

 

Ten demons, no, ten eunuchs.

 

Lumian looked at them with a cruel smile and slowly walked forward.

 

And releasing an even more intense aura, he asked.

 

“Tell me where Sekaros is. If you don’t know, tell me where someone who might know Sekaros’s location is.”

 

Under the threat of Lumian, who had become an avatar of revenge, they had no choice but to tell him everything they knew.

 

And Sekaros, who was watching this from afar, from a secret place through magic, was breaking out in cold sweat.

 

“…”

 

He had nothing to say. It was strength that far exceeded his predictions.

 

He had hardly expected Lumian Calard to accept his proposal from the beginning. He had only left open the possibility because he was too valuable a talent to waste.

 

He had somewhat expected that guy to defeat Rudka, a Duke of the Demon Realm. No matter how much the hero’s power was limited and the demons’ power had grown stronger, the basic difference in specs was too great.

 

Despite knowing this fact, the reason he didn’t step forward directly was to more accurately assess the hero’s power and eliminate any possible mishaps.

 

‘It was a good decision. A very good one…’

 

“Damn it.”

 

A curse burst from Sekaros’s mouth.

 

It was clear that his response had been correct. But his opponent was far too strong.

 

Like Rudka, he too couldn’t understand it. How could someone maintain such strength in the Demon Realm, not even the Human Realm?

 

He didn’t know. He didn’t know how tremendous the rage of a eunuch who had lost precious things twice could be. How immense the power obtained by sacrificing the most precious thing could be.

 

After groaning for a long while, Sekaros muttered again.

 

“I suppose I’ll have to hide for a while.”

 

Not just himself. The high-ranking demons of the 108 Clan, who could be called 99 percent of the Demon Realm’s power, also needed to be evacuated. He concentrated his mind and sent warning messages to the heads of each family.

 

‘In any case, this is the Demon Realm. Unlike the Human Realm, that bastard’s excellent senses will inevitably be dulled.’

 

If that were the case, it would be difficult to find them if they were determined to hide. And as time passed, the hero’s ridiculous power would surely diminish. After all, it was an obvious fact that he had no source to gain power from.

 

‘One year… no, just six months should be enough. Let’s hide until then.’

 

Of course, in that case, it was a foregone conclusion that the Demon Realm would be devastated. The enraged hero would break, tear, and destroy everything in sight.

 

It didn’t matter. Anyway, excluding the 108 Clan and other high-ranking demons, the rest were subordinates who weren’t even helpful in terms of military strength. Not only that, but they were subordinates whose will to invade the Human Realm was weak, and even their respect for Father was utterly dim. He didn’t care.

 

‘Actually, this worked out well. If they get beaten by that hero bastard once, they might turn back to the great Father in fear. Their enthusiasm for invading the Human Realm might increase too.’

 

Not bad, not bad.

 

Sekaros, who had been muttering quietly, made the barrier around his location even thicker.

 

On his face that gleamed entirely black, only his smile shone pure white.

 

* * *

 

Six months had passed. By human world standards, a new year had dawned. Lumian’s age had already reached twenty.

 

However, there was no one around to celebrate this. He was still wandering the Demon Realm to break the curse, to tear Sekaros apart and kill him.

 

But there had been no particular results.

 

After annihilating the forces of Demon Realm Duke Rudka, Sekaros and the heads of the 108 Families had disappeared as if they had made a promise.

 

He absolutely couldn’t find them. If it had been the Human Realm, he could have known their locations as clearly as looking at his palm just by concentrating his mind, but this was the Demon Realm. The scenery wasn’t as different as he’d thought, nor was the concentration of demonic energy that thick, but it was still a fact that it interfered with his senses.

 

“Sigh…”

 

A sigh escaped from Lumian’s mouth.

 

He wanted to destroy everything if he could. He wanted to mercilessly trample the people of the Demon Realm who lived peacefully without knowing his pain, without knowing Sekaros’s cowardly tricks, destroy their villages, and demolish their cities.

 

However, Lumian couldn’t do that.

 

Because he had realized over the past six months that not all beings in the Demon Realm were as terrible and evil as he had thought.

 

‘Rather, I was surprised that they lived lives so similar to ordinary people in the Human Realm, with similar thoughts…’

 

Except for external features like horns on their foreheads or tails, they were no different from humans at all.

 

They were just busy making a living. They worked hard to support their parents and feed their children, moving diligently for a day’s happiness.

 

They had no interest in invading the Human Realm. They thought it was just a problem for the high and mighty people of the 108 Families, unrelated to themselves.

 

Therefore, Lumian couldn’t attack ordinary demons who were unrelated to this incident.

 

Even if he had lost his reason to anger, he was still a hero.

 

Even if they belonged to a different faction from his, he couldn’t massacre those who were completely unrelated.

 

‘What should I do…’

 

He was anxious. Uneasiness crept into his heart.

 

As Sekaros had predicted, his power was gradually diminishing. The power his friends had given him at the end was almost exhausted, and the anger that had burned endlessly was not the same as before.

 

It couldn’t be helped. There was no such thing as an eternally burning flame. He was gradually turning to ash. Probably within the next 1-2 years, he would be completely consumed, and hyena-like high-ranking demons would attack, targeting that moment.

 

“Haha, hahahaha.”

 

Lumian laughed. It was an empty laugh.

 

His life was so miserable. A future where he would die miserably without ever trying, without even fighting properly, was definitely something he had never wished for even for a moment.

 

Thus he continued to fall endlessly into the swamp of melancholy. And such negative emotions further weakened his power.

 

But then.

 

Swoosh.

 

A demon appeared before his eyes using teleportation magic.

 

Lumian instantly took a combat stance and looked at his opponent.

 

“…”

 

He could feel considerable power.

 

Of course, it was weaker than himself. Well, since even Sekaros, the Son of the Demon Lord, had gone into hiding, there couldn’t be any demon stronger than him. However, it seemed certain that this one was stronger than Demon Realm Duke Rudka.

 

Lumian spoke in a sharp voice.

 

“Did you show yourself thinking this was your chance since my power seems to have weakened?”

 

“That is not the case, Hero Lumian Calard.”

 

“Then did you come bearing a message from Sekaros?”

 

“That is not it either. I have come to help you take the life of the Son of the Demon Lord, Sekaros.”

 

“…Bullshit!”

 

Lumian didn’t believe it.

 

He had never heard of a high-ranking demon with power great enough to surpass the heads of the 108 Families, not just an ordinary demon, not being loyal to the Demon God.

 

He drew his sword with a ringing sound. And aimed it at his opponent.

 

What happened then was astonishing.

 

Rustle-

 

Slice!

 

“Graaah!”

 

The high-ranking demon pulled down his pants and cleanly cut off his manhood with his hand blade.

 

“…!”

 

Lumian’s eyes widened greatly. He was so shocked he couldn’t speak properly.

 

To cut off his own manhood directly!

 

His heart was pounding wildly.

 

While he was in such panic, the high-ranking demon, forcibly managing his expression, threw the severed part toward Lumian.

 

And said.

 

“My name is Baku. I hold a deep grudge against Sekaros, the Son of the Demon Lord.”

 

“…”

 

“I know it’s hard to trust a demon’s words. But you won’t close your ears to words spoken man to man, will you? I swear on the thing I’ve given you.”

 

Lumian’s pupils shook.

 

Despite being a demon, he could feel his sincerity. The sadness, pain, and desire for revenge emanating from his body flowed into his heart. Just like when he had embraced the wishes of the continent’s people while in the Divine Realm.

 

“I will never betray you. Please trust me.”

 

He had no choice but to believe.

 

Lumian quietly sheathed his sword.

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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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