Chapter: 731
I carefully withdrew my hand that had been covering Tannian’s mouth.
It was instinctual to block such a clear flag, but here I was, in a public gathering of the Holy Kingdom’s people, disrespectfully touching a future saint. No matter how important I was to the Empire or how much history I had with Tannian from the Academy, it was still rude.
“Isn’t it a bit unfortunate to mention joyous matters in a place where there’s an evil lurking? Can we talk about this after we’ve taken him down?”
“Haha, you’re right, Brother. I was a bit too hasty and almost made a mistake.”
However, as long as there’s a good enough excuse and the person’s forgiveness, that kind of rudeness can easily be brushed aside.
In fact, there were a few folks who seemed somewhat relieved by my sudden action. They probably couldn’t bring themselves to silence the future saint, but I stepped in to save the day.
“It’s been years since you two parted, yet it seems you still cherish that past friendship. Quite a beautiful sight.”
After the awkwardness passed, the commander of the expedition, Cardinal Radivik of the Saint Togra Order, chuckled as he approached.
“The three years spent with Brother Tannian are unforgettable for me. If you permit me, I hope this friendship will last a lifetime.”
I responded with a light smile towards Cardinal Radivik.
Radivik was the commander of the expeditionary forces gathered by the Dawn Sect as they declared total war. He usually protects the Saint Togra Cathedral, the heart of the sect, and could be called the strongest among the sect’s martial champions. He achieved his rank as a cardinal solely through his own strength.
Given such a figure, I needed to treat him with the respect of a superior during this campaign against the Demon Kings. Honestly, the information about the Demon King would likely be more extensive in the hands of the Cardinal than me. There’s no need for a pride clash that could disrupt the chain of command.
“Oh? Is that so? Well, may your friendship endure forever.”
“Friendship, you say? Brother, you were my mentor; calling it a friendship would be a stretch. It’s merely my one-sided respect for you.”
At the Cardinal’s words, Tannian also smiled and spoke up.
It sounded nice, but I internally scoffed. Does he think this is the same guy from the Academy?
“I’m honored, Brother.”
But the mentor-student relationship had long ended. I tried to keep a smile while accepting Tannian’s words.
If Tannian weren’t the next saint, I would have treated him like Erich and constantly teased him.
The expedition meeting commenced, focusing around Commander Radivik and myself, who was nominally the vice commander.
“Sadly, there aren’t many records from the demon king hunts 800 years ago. The sect suffered significantly due to the demon king’s rampage, pouring considerable resources into both the hunt and subsequent recovery efforts.”
First, Cardinal Radivik acknowledged the lack of information.
“However, the crucial information has been stored in the sect’s library.”
Still, he indicated that they did know how to counter the demon king.
“First and foremost, the demon king commands a vicious and enormous army, but his own power is not exceptional. According to records from the saint Berlo, his strength is reportedly on par with a royal knight commander.”
Using the word ‘just’ when referring to a royal knight commander had me wondering, but the demon king was a monster that once shook an entire continent. If a being that once wielded such power is considered strong enough to represent a nation, then, indeed, he might not be as strong as we thought.
…
‘How does he know that?’
Thinking about it made me feel something was off. How could the saint gauge the abilities of a royal knight commander so specifically? Had that Berlo saint tussled with royal knight commanders from various kingdoms?
I briefly wondered if the saints had a history of being peculiar, but pushed the thought away. What mattered now wasn’t the eccentricity of saints from 800 years ago.
“The problem is the demon king’s recovery ability. As a monster who defies death and sullies the natural order, it is said that the demon king could still move even after losing his head or chest. If it isn’t an attack coated in divine might, it doesn’t even count as a hit.”
“Whoa.”
“What a nasty fellow. To still move after losing his head and heart…”
Radivik’s words drew a collective gasp from the upper echelons present.
Just as expected from the king of death, that ability was truly horrifying. Objectively speaking, having the strength of a royal knight commander isn’t weak, but practically, unless you’re a paladin or a priest, you can’t even deal damage to him. I can understand now why the continent was in disarray when the demon king first rampaged.
‘Moving even after losing his head and heart…’
Moreover, just because we hit him with divine energy doesn’t mean that jerk is going to stay down. All we’re doing is scratching him, for all we know.
Of course, if we beat him down to the point he can’t recover, that might stop him, but that process is definitely not going to be easy.
“Thus, the forces participating in the hunt for the demon king will consist entirely of highly capable paladins and combat priests.”
That made perfect sense, and I nodded along.
If we’re only capable of hitting the enemy using divine might, then no matter how strong a knight is, they’re little different from regular soldiers. The priests may enchant the knights’ weapons with holy properties, which could prove beneficial in combat, but sacrificing the strength they could use to bash the demon king’s head in for enchantments might not be the best idea.
“Except for you, our vice commander, Count Tyleglen. Two combat priests are scheduled to cast strengthening spells on you, so you will also be able to deal damage to the demon king.”
“Thank you for the sect’s consideration.”
However, if an enchanted weapon proves to perform better than average paladins and priests, then that’s a whole different story. If I could plunge holy forces into the demon king, that would be something to see.
‘It’s been a while for full enhancement.’
Four years since my duel with Dorgon. This would be the first complete enhancement in a long time. I’ve already received strengthening spells from Trixie, and I even asked the Eternal Blue Sky and Constantina for power, just in case.
With that, I’d be in the situation of having the continent’s strongest sorcerer and the powers of three deities backing me up. If I can’t take down the demon king with this, then there’s no hope to begin with.
Of course, I prepped a backup plan just in case, so I’m not worried about failing the hunt.
– Kieeeeeeeeeeee─!!
At that moment, a cry erupted from outside our camp.
“What’s this…?”
“I summoned reinforcements. They will prove useful in case of emergency.”
The beast known as Jizz, now the divine beast of Eternal Blue Sky, had joined the expeditionary forces.
That bastard, Demon King. I almost summoned Leviathan and Behemoth but managed to restrain myself.
You’ll see them on the second defensive line after you’ve broken through this expedition.
In the southern outskirts of the Ivelaten Marquisate, the grasslands stretched out. Fortunately, the demon king had settled not near the city but in a remote area.
When we arrived at the grasslands that had become the demon king’s lair, I saw an oddly familiar sight.
‘A dungeon?’
At first glance, it looked hard to notice, but looking closer, there were slight distortions in the space.
It’s a dungeon. The demon king had enough absolute power to create a dungeon just by existing.
‘He said he was at his weakest.’
I clicked my tongue inside. Cardinal Risikou had emphasized that the demon king seemed weak, but he could create a dungeon even at a supposed weak state? Just how powerful was he at his prime?
“The records state that the demon king’s lair is nothing short of a labyrinth. Unlike the usual dungeons formed near familiar surroundings, the dungeon created by the demon king is on a whole different level, like its own space, so be on guard.”
“Understood.”
Nodding at Cardinal Radivik’s words, I understood the nature of how dungeons usually work.
Normal dungeons don’t stray far from the environment they were birthed in. If a dungeon spawned in a forest, it’ll reflect a forest within, and if it was born in icy mountains, it’d be an icy dungeon inside.
Yet here it was, a dungeon that doesn’t depend on its creation environment, and once you enter it, you’re immediately met with a labyrinth. That’s more akin to spatial creation than distortion.
‘Truly impressive powers.’
Once one grasps the principles, it could bring forth a remarkable leap for the magic community. It’s a shame such abilities are being used for destruction.
“In the past, the evils that knelt before justice have raised their filthy heads once more!”
Amidst my thoughts while gazing at the entrance of the dungeon, the Cardinal turned and shouted to the expeditionary forces.
“I won’t waste words! You are all mere losers who were defeated by great sages 800 years ago, and now you’ve appeared again, unable to accept your loss! If you’re scared of such pathetic vermin, turn back now! If you do, I won’t hold it against you!”
Though rough and crude for a Cardinal’s statement, going into an imminent battle, it was quite fitting.
“Death to evildoers! Peace to the continent!”
“In the presence of our great Lord, we shall offer the enemy’s blood and remains!”
“Death to the demon king! An eternal death, so he may never rise again!”
Upon hearing the Cardinal’s proclamations, the expeditionary forces raised their swords and scriptures even higher.
‘Why are they raising scriptures for?’
I felt something strange. Are they thinking of smacking undead with a book? Sure, if they’re dealing with corpses, a blunt weapon might work better than a blade…
“Good! Your spirit and courage! Your devotion and faith will remain forever in the annals of the sect! Our sun, the skies above, these plants will remember!”
Anyway, the Cardinal, who ramped up the expeditionary forces’ morale—no, insanity, drew the sword sheathed at his waist.
“So, warriors participating in the holy war! Never stop until you confirm the demon king’s death! The Lord desires it!”
“The Lord desires it!”
At that, the expeditionary forces boldly advanced into the dungeon.
“What in the world?”
Once we stepped into the dungeon, I mumbled in a daze.
Something was off. Tannian and the Cardinal were next to me, along with a multitude of forces behind us. Yet, as soon as we stepped into the dungeon, everyone disappeared, and I was alone.
What is this? Did I get rejected from entering the dungeon? Is it the vengeful spirit of Ungi, who died in the dungeon five years ago, rejecting me?
No, that can’t be right. I’m definitely inside the dungeon.
‘Rose garden.’
If it weren’t for that, there wouldn’t be roses sprawling in a field that only had green grass. I didn’t know why the demon king had created such a dungeon, but the interior was no doubt genuine.
‘I was expecting a demon king’s castle or something similar.’
I walked forward with a reluctance. Falling into enemy territory alone wasn’t ideal, but staying put wouldn’t change anything. I had to walk around and survey the area—
“Dear me.”
The sudden voice made me draw my sword.
“It’s quite surprising to see a guest come so far. This has never happened before.”
From the direction of the voice, I spotted a woman who was surrounded by an abundance of roses, kneeling to fold origami.
With sky-blue hair cascading down to her waist and contrasting red eyes—a delicate figure with porcelain white skin.
“Welcome, noble visitor from the outside. Is the outside still beautiful?”
This woman seemed all too out of place in the demon king’s dungeon.
“…Who are you?”
“Oh, how careless of me; I almost forgot to introduce myself. Forgive me. I’m of an age where I tend to make such mistakes.”
The smiling woman stood up gracefully, gently lifting the hem of her skirt while bowing.
She acted as if she was greeting another noble.
“I am Risianne. A humble servant, once a cardinal of the Dawn Sect.”
Once Risianne straightened herself and continued with a smile.
“You must be familiar with the name of the demon king.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle.
So, the Dawn Sect folks have been lacking information about the demon king after all.
‘Well, of course they wouldn’t document it.’
How could they record that their own cardinal had become the demon king?
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