Chapter 138

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

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Of course, but.

There were not a few eyes watching the pseudo-struggle—or rather, the struggle—between the two.

Inside the palace as well as outside its walls.

Not only the collaborators of the regent who wasn’t acting alone, and those involved or aiding in various capacities,

but also those completely unrelated or uninvolved.

Though many among them had either been detained or killed,

there were still quite a few walking around the palace with both legs intact.

In the power struggle where people vie for power, it’s not uncommon for lives to be put on the line unwillingly.

Still, this situation had gone beyond excess, reaching a horrifying level.

With demons openly appearing, killing, and tormenting humans right before everyone’s eyes.

Amidst all this, grotesque monsters and sea beasts were running rampant.

Yet, the very existence of that man casually prowling the palace halls with sword in hand was giving them all a significant amount of discomfort.

“Guh!”

“Looking where you shouldn’t? You asking for it?”

A dog-like head atop a scrawny frame.

Venus crushed the neck of a small demon with hard scales and wings attached, clearing away anything that got too close.

Like sandcastles swept away by waves, among the many demons he encountered, none remained unscathed who had crossed him or irritated him.

And at the end of his sweep through the palace, there he was.

“This is no place for you to tread so carelessly with your dirty feet…”

Before the sentence could finish, the regent tumbled awkwardly across the floor after a kick to the shin.

He had been about to cast a spell, just in case, but Venus’s approach scattered his mana instantly.

Caught off guard by this, his response came too late.

“!!!”

They say pain beyond measure silences even screams.

The bone being shattered halfway made the agony stand out even more.

“Hurts, does it?”

Completely crushing it would hurt, sure, but somehow less shocking and thus less painful.

So, by carefully controlling the damage to keep the leg partially intact but thoroughly injured, one could save effort while doubling the effect.

Kicking someone in the leg causes automatic shock absorption and impact dispersion.

But if you kick without giving any chance for that, exploding the force inward?

That’s when the damage—and the suffering—sets in immediately.

“What are you doing here, huh?! Do you know who I am…?”

“What do I care?”

As Venus raised his hand to strike the jaw, the regent bit his tongue, blood gushing from his mouth and chin.

“Gggghh—”

“Why the hell did that guy leave this one alone? He must’ve thought he could catch him anytime, huh? What’s his deal?”

Of course, it’s not like Venus didn’t know the reason.

If Carriel dealt with this guy, things would get messy.

And the biggest problem with that mess would be the disappearance of someone to take responsibility for this whole situation.

After all, when problems arise and there’s no proper criminal or sinner left to blame, it leads to unnecessary anger and chaos.

It’s only common sense that those causing trouble should pay the price, right? No matter how strict someone thinks they’re upholding justice… it’s just meddling if it doesn’t properly punish the perpetrator or provide closure to the victims.

“Hey, don’t be scared. Even though I may go all out, I’m not stupid enough to cause chaos in someone else’s country.”

Venus lifted his foot again and stomped harder on the already broken shin.

Crack!

“Gaaaah!!”

Spitting blood and clawing at his eyes, the regent passed out. Just to make sure it wasn’t an act, Venus kicked his stomach hard—but there was no reaction.

Had he regained consciousness, the blow would have sent shockwaves through his solar plexus and lungs, making him cough violently.

No response? Truly unconscious then.

“Where’s your vigilance? Precious brats like you should always be on high alert. How can you let your guard down in this state?”

Spitting in contempt, Venus looked around the wrecked room and noticed the external noise had died down.

“Already over?”

Didn’t you claim to be some great demon or whatever? Wasn’t that what you said?

“You really hold nothing back, huh.”

At that moment, Cain arrived, either late or intentionally delaying his entrance.

“Leave this one alone. Let the idiots of this country handle him later.”

“…Surprisingly, you do think sometimes.”

“But hey, what about that pig getting beaten up outside? Is that thing you were expecting? Yo! Two-Headed One! Is this your master?”

Then, from Cain’s shadow, a two-headed figure popped out.

“Nope! Well, technically yes, but no!”

“What kind of beast are you? Can’t you speak properly?”

Unlike earlier, the two-headed creature growled openly.

“You’re nothing but prey now that the scary girl’s gone! Still defying me? Want to get eaten?!”

“If you want a fight, stop yapping and come at me already. Why so talkative? Got nothing better to do than carry those heads around? Brain dead much?”

“Grrr! Kyaa—”

Cain quickly shoved the two-headed creature back into the shadows.

“Weren’t you here to observe that individual?”

“That’s true, but while I’m here, might as well stir things up a bit. Clean up some trash. Maybe save a useless person or two and gather info. And prepare good impressions for any unforeseen situations. That way, we won’t have to make excuses later.”

“Hmm.”

This guy isn’t new to this kind of behavior.

Unspoken but understood: If there’s anything valuable or interesting lying around, it’ll quietly find its way into his pocket under the guise of ‘safekeeping.’

“So, you’ve seen him? How’s that crazy guy doing?”

“…What kind of human is that?”

The “crazy guy” Venus referred to couldn’t possibly be the young king possessed by a great demon.

That dark yet radiant figure.

Who despite holding such profound depths, seemed to embody the abyss itself.

Correction: He *is* the abyss.

…How can a human be like that?

“What do you mean? Just an annoying little mutt.”

Clearly an ally and someone Venus knows, yet he clearly dislikes him.

Not exactly hostile or cursing him, but something else entirely.

“Are you jealous?”

“I have the right to be.”

He doesn’t deny it.

He openly admits it.

“And because of what I’ve learned, observed, and heard from him, I thought I’d try following his example.”

“What do you mean?”

“Did I bring you along out of boredom? Did I save you?”

The rising aura is far from ordinary.

“What exactly can you do for me right now? What help can you offer?”

“Indeed. Is that what this is about?”

The melancholy on Cain’s pale face, the despair that had been unintentionally pressing down on him, vanished instantly.

“Well, if that’s the case, then right here, right now, there’s no one better than me.”

But…

“Are you sure it’s okay?”

“Stop pretending to care and let’s just get on with it.”

Venus stomps again on the regent’s mangled leg, just in case.

He considers cutting out the tongue if this guy happened to overhear anything, but alas, there’s no reaction.

Truly unfortunate.

=====

To some, it might have felt like an eternity.

In reality, it wasn’t that long.

“Ugh, uh… eeh… ugh…”

Something that once was a High Mage.

Lying sprawled out, rolling his eyes as if delirious for quite some time.

Drool streaming from his mouth, the massive form of the Great Demon and young Magic King began to visibly shrink, contracting like a deflating balloon.

However, apart from that…

“…”

There was something.

It sparkled faintly, like a morning star.

Appearing outwardly plain and shabby, like any other human.

But that was merely superficial.

From a distance, beneath the hood of a simple cloak, only a vague silhouette could be discerned.

He spoke to Carriel.

-If the Lord has sent you, then it’s only fitting I greet you properly.

“You are…”

-I am another voice calling out in the wilderness.

Among countless demons, there existed something.

Something present everywhere yet nowhere at the same time.

Its name and infamy were brilliant, yet none who claimed to have seen it or heard its voice truly had.

Those who boasted of encountering it were likely mistaken.

It was nothing more than delusion, hallucination, or a dream they convinced themselves of.

Even meeting a random demon was impossible; how much more so facing or confronting this?

Because…

…it would ruin the king’s dignity. It wouldn’t make sense.

The one commanding legions numbering tens of millions, perhaps even greater multiples of that—why would he reveal himself before insignificant vermin, mere specks of dust?

It would be absurd, laughable, mocking, and deceptive to use a dragon-slaying blade to kill a chicken.

-Do you have any idea what I’m about to say?

“…Perhaps.”

-A tired proposal nonetheless, but I shall extend it.

Bow down to me.

Prostrate yourself.

Offer me your worship.

-And in return, I shall grant you everything in this world.

Unparalleled wealth and glory.

Radiant beauties beyond compare.

Vast lands stretching endlessly.

Your name will be etched into history, glorified forever.

Above all, the power to crush those you hate.

-I shall place righteous power into your hands.

Then, right now,

-You can rush to him.

Without the past pains.

Without the current struggles and complex choices.

Without future fears.

-For as long as this world and civilization endure, you will be the greatest king the world has ever known.

“…”

-Additionally.

His gaze shifted.

He was looking straight at someone.

And there she was.

The golden girl.

-It’s not a bad deal for you either, is it, child of gold?

Upon hearing this, the Golden Girl responded with a derisive laugh.

-Had I been naive back then and heard such nonsense, maybe I’d have considered it. Who knows?

But what can you do about this?

-Why would I let myself be swayed by such words now? I want nothing. What exactly do you plan to give me?

She showed no hesitation.

-So stop clinging to me and go bother him instead.

She nodded subtly toward Carriel.

-Whatever decision he makes is up to him.

Then she turned her head and urged him on.

-So, what’ll you do? FYI, everything in that offer is true. That guy can deliver on every promise. So if you accept it outright, you can run to Ruelde and tear him apart instantly. After that, you can do whatever you want with this world until the day you die. No one will stand in your way.

Gold doesn’t lie.

At least not on the surface.

Until the day you die.

Exactly.

The biggest trap.

But…

To most people consumed by desire, that’s the only truth, the only thing that matters.

Isn’t it?

“…”

Carriel walked silently toward the figure and stopped before him.

Silence cracked slightly as lips parted and voices emerged.

Everything shattered.

“If I were Him, if I were Irene, I would have answered like this: ‘Worship your Heaven and serve Him alone,’” he said plainly.

Monotone, devoid of emotion or excitement.

Yet tinged faintly with self-deprecating undertones.

He continued.

“Would your answer differ?”

With a long exhale, Carriel replied.

“I may be nothing compared to you. But I’ve only just begun to walk.”

Right now, I may have become powerful and extraordinary sooner than anyone else in the world.

But against the vastness of the entire universe…

I’m still but a speck of dust.

Nevertheless…

“You haven’t offered me what I truly desire.”

-Then tell me directly. And I shall grant it.

“Can you turn back time to the moments I wish?”

-…

“I would willingly kneel if that were possible.”

He remained silent.

Had he said yes, Carriel would have genuinely done so.

Gold and Grandeous had already declared it impossible.

Even the Demon King supposedly deemed it beyond reach.

If he could truly do it, then what else could he be but a being greater than any god?

Thus, there would be no harm in accepting.

But naturally,

he continued his prolonged silence.

No sign of deliberation.

No pause for contemplation.

It seems his words have failed him.

“You truly speak no lies.”

Unlike someone claiming to have traveled from the future, pushing false realities onto others.

Indeed, he is no ordinary entity.

Attempting mere deception on Carriel himself…

Before this figure stood a being bound by incomprehensible pride.

Such arrogance, perhaps unmatched anywhere in existence.

Even the heavens.

Even his own father.

There is no one in all creation who could replace him.

Such supreme arrogance.

-Do you know the fate of those who defy my offers? You’re far more pitiful and weak than them. Thus, you’ll endure days far worse than what they faced. Yet, you still dare to oppose me?

“…I have no need to prove my faith.”

I’m not rejecting your offer to worship Heaven.

I simply…

“Walk my own path.”

If this road were dictated by someone else’s words,

then all my efforts, all my desperation, all my urgency…

would they not be meaningless?

If that’s all I amounted to,

what reason would I have suffered so much throughout my life?

“You cannot walk my path for me. All of that would be deceit. For that sole reason, I reject your offer. Is my answer sufficient?”

-So be it.

He readily accepted.

-You are not the son of the Father. Thus, I shall not treat you cruelly.

Saying this calmly, he nodded.

-Yet rejecting my offer is a sin beyond redemption.

You…