Chapter 60 – Self-Proclaimed Demon King (1)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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When they started getting a hunch.

It was from the moment the Demon Legion Commanders appeared.

“……Demon Legion Commanders? What about them?”

“Their appearances definitely have a commonality.”

“A commonality?”

Sung Hyun-joon pondered deeply and then smack! He hit the desk.

“Ah! Appearances as disgustingly unlikable as pigeons!”

“Huuu. Never mind. It’s my fault for asking.”

“Ah why, what is it. Then.”

“Those guys are all birdbrains.”

“……Birdbrains? Oh? You’re right.”

Frost, where rankers from various countries gathered.

And Ho-yeol showing overwhelming activity among them.

Was it because they were intoxicated by national pride?

They thought of the bastards’ appearances as nothing important and passed over it.

Yoon Soo-gyeom clicked his tongue at the belatedly realizing Sung Hyun-joon.

“The concepts of the Demon Kings were taken from legends and folktales…….”

“Yes, that was definitely the case.”

“Among them exists a Demon King related to birds.”

Yoon Soo-gyeom, who was speaking seriously, turned the monitor.

Sung Hyun-joon carefully opened his mouth.

“……Decarabia?”

“Yeah, Decarabia.”

“One of the 72 demons who commands birds as familiars……?!”

Sung Hyun-joon’s eyes widened.

“Senior……. This birdbrain……!!”

“No, not yet.”

If it were just that, I wouldn’t be 99.9 percent certain.

Click

Yoon Soo-gyeom immediately switched the screen with his mouse.

What appeared on the monitor was a satellite view of Frost.

Sung Hyun-joon tilted his head in confusion.

“Why satellite photos all of a sudden, Senior?”

“Just take a look first.”

“This is what we checked together initially. Because the smoke bloomed up like some cumulus clouds, we couldn’t see anything. Why bring this up anew……. Huh?!”

The clearly visible panoramic view of Frost.

Yoon Soo-gyeom continued his words as if asking what there was to be surprised about.

“The moment the Demon Legion Commander bastards blew away the smoke with the flapping of their wings.”

“Wow shit. Did you capture it then, Senior?”

“Yeah. I have to earn my keep. The salary lupin act is getting tiring now.”

“……Hold on a second. Senior.”

Sung Hyun-joon, who was peering into it, muttered in panic.

A clearly visible red pattern.

That was a star drawn with blood and corpses.

A pentagram.

‘……This is, definitely?!’

Click

Sung Hyun-joon moving the mouse instead of Yoon Soo-gyeom.

Switching the window, the image of Decarabia appeared again.

Yoon Soo-gyeom nodded his head.

“Yeah. At the same time, a demon that takes the form of a pentagram.”

… and ….

Looking back and forth at the pentagrams floating on the two screens, he opened his mouth.

“I think we can confirm this 100 percent, Senior.”

“That star pattern drawn with blood and corpses gives you a feeling too, right?”

“Yes. It’s definitely the procedure of a Demon King summoning ritual, probably.”

“In that sense, it’s fortunate.”

“……?”

Here.

The place Yoon Soo-gyeom pointed with the mouse cursor.

Strange enough when zooming in.

Scattered corpses didn’t exist in that area alone.

Did the demons make a mistake?

No, that wasn’t it.

Sung Hyun-joon opened his mouth in disbelief.

“Hold on a second. If it’s this area…….”

“Right. It perfectly matches Lee Ho-yeol’s entry route.”

“A-Are you saying he advanced while recovering the corpses in that situation?!”

“Although I can’t know his intention. It must be something like that.”

Guessing like that, they felt like they knew why so many monsters swarmed toward Ho-yeol’s side.

Because Ho-yeol was exactly the existence directly interfering with the Demon King summoning ritual.

Yoon Soo-gyeom nodded his head.

“This time, we might be able to be of help to Lee Ho-yeol.”

If they know the Demon King’s identity.

They would be able to prepare against it.

In that sense, information regarding Decarabia was important.

“I’ll look for it right away!”

Surely there would be saved data remaining somewhere.

Sung Hyun-joon, who opened the search window and rummaged through the files, opened his mouth.

“Senior. I found it.”

But…….

This situation was not good.

No, more accurately, the compatibility wasn’t good.

“……What? Possesses knowledge of all plants and ‘minerals’?”

Because of all things, it had to be minerals!

In the past, and even in this present moment.

Wasn’t Ho-yeol a person who used alchemy skills utilizing stones?

Damn it.

He resolved to deliver helpful information but.

“To think what we finally found out is…….”

To think it’s such pessimistic information of all things.

Sung Hyun-joon quietly opened his mouth.

“It seems its resistance against Earth attribute magic is quite considerable.”

“Considering it’s a birdbrain, that concept would be valid.”

“……But it’s Lee Ho-yeol, right? Well, he has many other skills too!”

“That is true. Still, it roughly means one of his main skills has become useless.”

Yoon Soo-gyeom muttered softly.

“Even that isn’t enough, the opponent is a Demon King to boot.”

They couldn’t help but be deeply concerned.

No matter if it’s Ho-yeol.

For one of his main skills to become useless.

Was an exceptionally huge penalty.

However, concern and what needed to be done were separate.

Soon, Sung Hyun-joon opened the messenger with a deep breath.

“Huuu. Sending it to Gaon’s side should be fine, right, Senior?”

“That would be better. They just joined up with Lee Ho-yeol after all.”

“……Please. Let there be a hidden trump card at least.”

If it’s Lee Ho-yeol, who knows……!

Sung Hyun-joon thought it was an overly excessive expectation even while wishing for it.

Because isn’t Ho-yeol a mage no matter what?

‘Suddenly ta-da! Drawing a sword and fighting just like that…….’

Shake shake

Sung Hyun-joon immediately shook his head.

It was to the point of a hollow laugh coming out because he himself found it absurd.

“I must be having all sorts of useless imaginations because I’m desperate. Me too.”

He should say something that actually makes sense.

*

Nam Chul-min’s briefing flowing out through the speaker.

I opened my mouth.

“I see.”

So the Demon King’s identity was Decarabia, that guy.

Of course, it was a name I hadn’t even heard from the Akshan Demon Hunters either.

The Demon Kings they mainly mentioned were high-ranking Demon Kings even among the Demon Kings…….

Since simply put, they were top-tier Demon Kings.

‘It’s rather fortunate I haven’t heard of it.’

Though Granfel’s pride wouldn’t bend in before any demon.

I, who bears the burden of that pride, am different.

Because my stance is one where I must struggle endlessly……!

Feeling relieved inwardly without the slightest change in expression but.

Somehow the surrounding atmosphere wasn’t good.

-It’s troubling. Ho-yeol-ssi.

Those chiming in word by word starting with Nam Chul-min.

“So you mean. In AAU’s opinion, skills utilizing minerals wouldn’t work, right, Hyung? Naturally, it would probably neutralize skills like Ho-yeol-ssi mainly uses, such as summoning stone pillars or stone walls?”

Nam Tae-min, whose injuries were treated.

He probably couldn’t completely recover his stamina yet.

Yet his face was full of concern.

Leonie spoke bluntly.

“What, the heck is that shit. Sheesh.”

Of course, actually, I didn’t feel anything.

I am one who has eaten raw with alchemy but.

Because alchemy wasn’t the only thing I had.

‘My struggling in my own way was rewarding, huh.’

As expected, digging many wells was rewarding.

Fortunately, there was a person who knew my efforts.

It was none other than my swordsmanship teacher, Harkon.

“You have a good but needlessly worried comrade. Sir.”

Harkon seemed to be subtly anticipating.

Because Harkon mistakenly thought my true aptitude lay in swordsmanship.

Such a reaction was understandable too.

But…….

‘I somehow can’t guess that side’s reaction at all.’

I looked at Kitch.

Did she perhaps get goosebumps?

Brrr

Kitch shivered her body.

Of course, I didn’t have deep thoughts about it.

Other people’s thoughts or evaluations and the likes.

Couldn’t even become a matter of concern for Granfel.

“There is nothing to worry about.”

I spoke like that.

Right, because what I actually had to pay attention to was something else.

I checked the blinking quest window.

[Class Quest : Subjugation of the Demon King(”)]

The King of Demons.

Their evil hands begin to reach out.

The Last Demon Hunter.

Tear down the throne of evil.

─Train your weakened physical body. (Repeat)

─Investigate the northern city, Frost. (Success)

─Save the survivors. (In Progress)

─Thwart the Demon King summoning ritual. (In Progress)

●Defeat the Demon Legion Commanders. (10/10)

The last Demon Legion Commander fell.

With this, the objective of the quest was achieved.

However, the progress of the quest did not transition to success.

The meaning behind that was simple.

‘It means something is still left.’

Now that all the Demon Legion Commanders have fallen.

The Demon King’s Army was practically in a state of annihilation.

Clack!

Harkon sheathed his sword and said.

“We shouldn’t waste time on guys whose wills have broken.”

They’re guys whose morale was broken.

Even without us specifically trying to find them, other Players would do their best and dispose of them on their own.

Even for experience points and Contribution too.

So what I had to do was simple.

“Let’s go to the plaza.”

Frost Central Plaza.

The center of the pentagram.

That is, reaching the center of the Demon King summoning ritual.

The interrupters were gone.

I was able to reach the plaza in no time.

“……This is.”

The center of the star.

As much as the number of strokes interlocking with each other.

The sprawling corpses were a mountain.

The sprinkled blood was like a sea.

At that miserable sight, the Lionheart Knights including Harkon dropped their heads.

“Oh Lord. Please grant them rest.”

Grit

Nam Tae-min ground his teeth.

Jesse pressed down her pointed hat deeply and.

Leonie continually spat out swear words.

Just because they are Players doesn’t mean they would feel different emotions.

Because this was reality.

It meant people who weren’t NPCs had died.

Feeling terrible was natural.

It was then.

One of the corpses twitched its body.

“……Ah.”

Everyone reacted to that groan.

“……A survivor?!”

“Wait, that face is……?”

“Isn’t that the Lord of Frost?”

Right, the one who was alive was the Lord of Frost.

Harkon opened his mouth.

“Count Sirion……? Is that you!”

“Could it be, Sir Harkon……! Impossible!”

“Oh, Lord.”

Count Sirion.

Thinking coldly, it was natural for doubts to arise.

How could he survive alone.

Among those corpses?

However, Count Sirion was shedding tears.

“So His Majesty, the Empire did not turn a blind eye to us……!”

That was enough for those watching to withdraw their doubts.

His face and voice too.

Were exactly the same as the Count Sirion they knew well.

However, I knew.

[Subjugation of the Demon King].

The fact that the class quest is not over yet.

───────

Natural Enemy : Combat power increases exponentially when engaging in combat with the Demon tribe.

───────

Moreover, the effect of [Natural Enemy] too.

From the moment I stepped into Frost until now.

The fact that it hadn’t disappeared for even a single moment.

Most decisively above all.

I had experience.

The Succubus who perfectly acted as Baek Yi-seol, to the extent of deceiving not only the people around her but the world.

That experience of facing a demon.

Right, it was a doubt I had since I realized that fact.

The demons revealing their appearances in reality.

Should only be barely a few years ago.

But demons had already melted naturally into reality.

If that’s the case.

In Arcana, the hometown of demons.

Just how many demons must be hiding among humans.

Naturally, I couldn’t give an answer to that.

What era’s situation of Arcana is that?

If I had continued playing Arcana, maybe.

But I had a blank period surpassing well over ten years.

However, one thing was certain.

That that is not the Lord of Frost, Count Sirion.

At the same time, the quest window sparkled.

─Defeat the Demon King Decarabia. (In Progress)

I declared in an icy voice.

“You are ugly enough to be hard to look at.”

“……!!!”

“The acting stops there. Demon King.”

That was contempt.

“You who claim to be the King of an inferior breed. Driving your subordinates to the place of death. Yet you yourself hid your body among humans, is that fact not shameful for you?”

As a noble aristocrat.

The cowardly track record of the Demon King that absolutely couldn’t be overlooked.

The party members were clearly bewildered by my declaration.

“……The King of an inferior breed. Sir, what are you saying?”

Even Harkon, who was approaching Sirion, stepped back.

However, the bewilderment did not last long.

Because Decarabia, the bastard began to reveal its true colors.

“It seems you have foolishly misunderstood. Human.”

Craack, crack

Sirion’s body transforming inside out in an instant.

That was no longer Sirion.

Sirion’s body had begun to cruelly crumple up.

The bastard said to me.

“I did not drive them to the place of death. It is a noble sacrifice for the King.”

I could soon immediately figure out the meaning behind those words.

A crumpled mass.

That mass began to suck in blood and corpses.

“I will praise you. Your interference was highly meaningful. However.”

Interference must be talking about recovering the corpses right.

The moment I thought that, the Demon King’s Army flew in from all directions.

To be exact, they were sucked into the mass mixed together with the sacrifices.

“There is no law stating sacrifices must necessarily be human.”

Decarabia, that bastard absorbed the Demon King’s Army as living sacrifices to compensate for the lacking sacrifices. At the same time, the mass that was growing larger gradually began to take shape.

A pentagram connected with blood and pieces of flesh.

At the same time the star floated, the sky was covered in darkness.

Demon King, Decarabia.

The bastard had fully resurrected.

[The Demon King, Decarabia reveals its appearance.]

[You have entered the living hell, ‘Frost’.]

But, so what.

However, I didn’t have the slightest agitation.

I opened my mouth as always.

“Do not insult a true sacrifice.”

A sacrifice is.

Something that can only be attached to those who offered their lives.

For pride.

To protect Frost.

“You have no right to do so.”

Was it because I’m gradually immersing myself into Granfel.

If not, is it because I also genuinely think so.

For this moment at least, my mouth did not feel rough.

The flesh of the pentagram trembled noisily.

“I look forward to the moment when that arrogance falls to the floor. Your magic is already seen through. Extremely regrettably. Since rocks are merely minerals as well. Your greatest talent is as good as sealed.”

……What?

Greatest talent?

It seems it’s having a firm misconception about something.

‘Granfel’s talent, you see. Even I can’t fathom it.’

I calmly checked my condition.

The remaining amount of magic power is sufficient.

The ‘suitable magic power’ required by black magic is also full.

The stamina for emitting Sword Energy also was not needlessly wasted.

So there was no hesitation.

[‘Possessed Master Sword’ has been chosen as a sacrifice.]

[The skill, ‘Exorcism Ritual’ activates.]

[Inviting the Demon King, Decarabia to a ‘Ritual’.]

“Shut that ugly mouth first.”

“?!!”

“Self-proclaimed Demon King.”

Fwoosh!