Chapter 15

Posted by Kuze, ? Views, Released on February 8, 2025

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The Demon King of Wisdom intentionally returned to Carriel’s room only after the sun had set.

If he’d returned right away, that quick-witted kid would’ve figured out in no time that he’d been snooping on his parents.

So by giving off this strong vibe of “I don’t care,” it throws everything off balance.

Even if he asks outright, I can just tune him out and be done with it.

“Hmm, I’ve given it some serious thought.”

-Hey you! As soon as you got here, what’s with all the beating around the bush?

“I need power.”

-You know I’m not gonna give it to you, right? Are you asking for even harsher training?

“Through that training, I’ve come to realize its effectiveness in making me stronger. But… as you’ve said, it’s limited to survival and worldly tactics, isn’t it? Am I wrong?”

-Maybe if you keep repeating it, something might change.

After all, whether or not you manage to create your own breakthrough is entirely up to you.

Once you get tired of getting beaten up and reach a point where you’re no longer taking hits, every other option but being pummeled will disappear.

Because the condition to clear the training ground is either to defeat all enemies or not.

There are only two paths, after all.

“To be precise, I need the strength—and the means—to crush, annihilate, and incapacitate my opponents.”

-Ugh, why do you have to phrase it so complicatedly? Just say you wanna become overwhelmingly powerful.

Well, it’s a natural progression, I suppose.

Avoiding attacks alone won’t make your opponent fall.

Subduing them is out of the question too.

Just dodging until they’re exhausted?

That’s pushing it a bit too far, isn’t it?

-Then why are you coming to me about this? You’ve got your dad, plenty of others, heck, even your fiancée is top-notch. Why not ask her?

…

Is this kid deliberately playing dumb?

Have we known each other for only a few days, and already I can read your thoughts from your expressions?

Even the Demon King himself excels at this sort of thing, but this is surprising.

To begin with…

She fundamentally loathes the effort required to pay attention to anything.

Thus, for her to grasp someone else’s intentions this quickly is somewhat unexpected.

Unless the person is a complete enemy or an unavoidable rival, it wouldn’t happen.

-How about using this opportunity to reconcile with your parents instead?

“…Are you insane?”

Reconcile? What reconciliation?

“What am I supposed to do with the two of them who always claim I’m the problem?”

The Demon King chuckled softly.

‘So, you still respect them despite everything?’

If the animosity runs this deep, one would expect curses and hostility spilling over in their tone, yet you still maintain formal respect.

-Ah, such a pitiful soul indeed.

“What did you say?”

-It exists.

In other words.

During the time you’ve twisted like this, how much torment must you’ve endured from those around you?

Ah, just imagining it makes my spine tingle.

Could that kind of suffering have been enjoyable in its own way?

Isn’t the hatred and threats from others ultimately what drives us to grow stronger?

And when you finally tear them apart later, the pleasure of it… a thrill even your family couldn’t match.

-Unfortunately, I’ve never experienced it firsthand, which is quite disappointing.

“So, I’ve thought about it.”

-Hmm? About what?

“Long story short, let’s make a contract.”

A contract?

-What? Are you really willing to sell your soul? Not happening!

“Just grant me one favor.”

-You? Asking me for a favor? What could it be? To kill your father and avenge me?

For a moment, Carriel closed his mouth, but…

-You little brat! You actually gave it some serious thought? How ungrateful can you get?! The heavens will smite you for this!

…

From the fact that she doesn’t rebut here, it seems the Holy Maiden has successfully brainwashed her with faith.

Still, her defiance clearly asserts that such things cannot constrain her will.

Judging by her fiery eyes, her anger and repressed resentment seem firmly rooted.

-Impressive resolve. Let’s hear your proposal then. So, what favor do you offer?

“You’ll find out now.”

Huh? What was that?

-Look at you! Are you disarming yourself and begging for mercy?

“You understand well enough that I’ve been lenient to those who surrender, and mercilessly crushed those who resisted. And that all these actions were intended to drive enemies apart, instill fear beforehand, and force them into submission through calculated measures. I’m sure you fully comprehend this.”

-You know, this is something anyone could figure out with a little thought. Yet, you didn’t ask me to explain or seek empathy.

Even so…

Considering the information available about the Demon King in this region—mostly biased and malicious edits—it’s surprising how accurately you’ve grasped the essence.

Not judging others based on prejudice or fixed notions.

Things like race, ethnicity, regional or national identity, group cohesion…

While these may foster internal unity and stability, they ultimately lead to more conflicts.

-Yet somehow, you’ve managed to avoid biases and objectively analyze them. Impressive.

‘Oh, that’s right. This kid… wasn’t he sent as a hostage to foreign lands during his childhood?’

Under the pretense of being a hostage.

-And yet, I truly expect nothing from you.

“Come on, Demon King. Even you must have some regrets or unfulfilled desires before your demise, right?”

-That’s just sentimental nonsense. I don’t dwell on such things.

An extremely objective self-assessment.

After all, I’ve strived to become wise precisely to avoid becoming sentimental. Would I willingly choose sentimentality now? That would be absurd.

Blinded by desire, deaf to reason, wandering aimlessly in illusion, thirsting desperately for seawater…

Such errors, though repeated endlessly across species, aren’t applicable to me as the Demon King.

Don’t think I chose the title of ‘Wisdom’ out of boredom.

“Then, as the great one you are, show some mercy.”

-What did you say?

Look at this audacious and shameless kid!

“If you have more than enough, isn’t it possible to share? Being a king and all.”

-You know what? That sounds like saying, “Since you’re giving out candy, why not toss in some poop for free?” Pure nonsense.

Sharing.

Compassion.

Altruism.

The worst virtues any demon should ever embrace.

Still…

-There have been exceptions.

-But seriously, what do you want me to hand out? Some random trinket? Keep your royal dignity intact? Kid, you’re way off base.

As a king?

-Talking back without being a vassal? How disrespectful.

“Technically, I could be your vassal. Would you consider granting me something then?”

-…Ugh, I hate dragging things out.

Back in the day…

At the first sign of such nonsense, I’d have decapitated them or subjected them to unimaginable horrors.

-Do you feel this desperate?

“You’ve already given me more than enough. For that, I’m grateful. But… it’s not enough to convince or defeat my father.”

-Haaah.

If you dream of dying a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand times…

You’d undoubtedly become a warrior unparalleled in this world.

If you can endure that hell.

However, surviving hell and facing a hero are entirely different matters.

Let alone defeating or crushing him?

It simply doesn’t make sense.

Even if Carriel acquires the skill to overturn and dominate that brutal battlefield…

With just a flick of my finger, the Demon King could reduce the formidable warrior Carriel to nothing.

The one who defeated even me was Ruelde.

Therefore, Carriel isn’t harboring naive and feeble hopes of victory or possibilities.

‘There are problems on many fronts.’

Had he been nurtured properly, he could’ve been an unrivaled hero.

But that’s character and temperament.

And issues of willpower and spirit.

Without tangible power, neither a warrior nor a hero is possible.

Still, he’s no ordinary talent.

He’s exceptional.

Only…

Such qualities rarely surface outwardly.

-So, dissatisfaction arose despite recognizing growth?

Even while realizing his own progress…

Always feeling inadequate, angered by his shortcomings, rising against them, again and again.

Continuously resisting unreasonable trials…

Somehow accepting increasingly absurd adversities as normal.

All of it seemed to stem from solid reasons.

-Why do you intend to defeat your father, Ruelde?

“Do you really care about what happens after winning?”

About what comes next…

When the present reality is already despair-filled…

Dream big and hold onto hope earnestly?

…The Demon King wasn’t the type to indulge in positivity.

One must remain utterly cynical and realistic.

Only then can intellect conquer.

Driven by emotions?

Opinions swayed by surrounding voices?

Doubting one’s own choices?

Falling for flattery and criticism…

Mistaking them as sound judgment?

Attributing failures and processes to external factors, evading responsibility?

‘Then truly, you’d end up as a useless ghost.’

Thus, even now…

Being able to laugh and joke freely amidst death stems from logic aligning perfectly.

Expected outcomes.

Still…

If presented with a choice between right and wrong answers…

Perhaps…

Neither answer nor mistake applies, as she would respond.

Didn’t the Great Demon King once say:

[We’re forced to solve problems without solutions.]

Answers, truths, mistakes in life…

We define and carve our own paths.

[The meaning of life depends on you. Every action you take carries solely your responsibility. Since falling into this world, this remains the unchanging truth.]

-Unchanging truth.

“??”

-Good. Then let’s do this.

As she snapped her fingers, a contract written in light appeared in the air, as before.

The content was concise.

First, Carriel must defeat his father Ruelde, the hero, and secure his acknowledgment of victory.

Failure to uphold this vow will result in the most unbearable despair and suffering in the world, extending beyond death to all he holds dear, continuing until his lineage ends.

(This does not apply to his father Ruelde, mother Hermine, or any future siblings.)

Second, no cheap tricks or compromises are allowed. The Demon King’s subjective judgment is the sole standard.

Third, In return, the Demon King will provide a satisfactory training method and power enhancement for Carriel.

However, the Demon King’s personal vision is excluded.

Fourth, Completion of the contract is binary: success or failure.

Should he die without fulfilling it, appropriate additional costs will apply, judged by the Demon King.

-Accept it if you dare. Like last time.

Meaningful and even frightening terms.

Without unwavering determination, one wouldn’t dare attempt it.

However, if resolved…

Ironically, it could be a deal where the Demon King suffers infinitely.

-You could just accept reality, conform, or live a life of avoidance…

Before he could finish speaking, the kid signed it.

Despite visibly trembling hands and a pale complexion.

Witness this decisive moment.

Naive, clumsy…

Even pitiable in a way.

‘But it’s his choice.’

She feels no sympathy.

No mockery or disdain either.

Anyone can make a resolution.

Carrying it forward is incredibly hard.

Completing it is another story.