45th Episode – Third Try
Well, anyway. I think I’ve learned everything I wanted to know about the space-time regression.
With the Demon King’s help in mind, I immediately laid out my plan to kill Eldritch.
“Hero, have you already fallen to the dark energies?”
That response, accompanied by a look of disdain, came back immediately.
My trembling hand instinctively moved toward the Demon King’s cheek.
“Ahhh, no, sorry! I apologize! Now that I think about it, it seems like a very reasonable and valid perspective!”
“Hmph, is that so? I agree.”
“…Sigh…”
The Demon King began muttering to herself. You can mutter all you want, but does anything really change?
Anyway, as long as you’re part of my ‘two-for-one deal’, what I do, you’ll definitely follow—no exceptions.
‘So this is why masters indulge in their abuses of power.’
It annoyed me greatly when I was on the receiving end, but honestly, it feels pretty good.
As I nodded to myself, the Demon King suddenly turned her gaze to me and spoke up.
“By the way, Hero.”
“What’s up?”
“If I find out the location of the vessel from Eldritch, what do you plan to do with it?”
“Destroy it and kill him.”
No retreat, no regrets, just pure masculine resolve.
I bluntly answered with the truth. The Demon King’s expression immediately darkened.
She momentarily paused in silence, then raised her eyebrows and beckoned me with her finger, gesturing for me to come closer.
When I obediently leaned in, she raised her voice slightly.
“Are you even listening? That benefits me in no way! Eldritch is one of my most loyal and powerful vassals!”
“But now you have me. Let’s cut ties with the outdated powers while you’re reborn and join forces with Sooho Jung Yong.”
“GRRGH! If only you weren’t my guardian! ARRGH!”
The Demon King pounded her chest in frustration.
Since I’m currently the one with all the power, she seems to be frustrated by her inability to rebel.
She stood up straight and sharply retorted to me.
“Hero, aren’t you supposed to be a problem-solver for when I attempt to conquer this Paradiso Continent? Unlike Eldritch, you won’t be an obstacle, right?”
“It won’t happen.”
Once again, I answered immediately without hesitation.
Her eyebrows twitched in response.
“What?”
“If you help me now, I’ll be on your side for life.”
Upon hearing my sudden outburst, the Demon King froze, her mouth slightly agape in shock.
With total confidence, I gave her a thumbs-up and said to the undying Demon King, speaking with utmost seriousness.
“The directive I received from higher-ups was to manage you, not eliminate you.”
“Hmm… And so?”
“Do whatever you want. Conquer this continent or carve the Earth in half—I really don’t care.”
As per my agreement with Minerva, I am the Demon King’s supervisor. I intend to fulfill that role in earnest.
But does ‘supervising’ mean that I have to prevent her from conquering the world?
Nope. Too troublesome.
I didn’t sign up for this.
If it’s that unfair, they should have given explicit orders.
‘This is why verbal contracts are a problem.’
When there’s no evidence, how do I prove if my counterpart misinterprets the agreement?
Minerva and all those lesser deities—how you’ve underestimated me.
“Once you’ve taken over the world, give me a spot somewhere. I’ll work like a dog for you, promise.”
“Hmm. I’ve said it before, but you… you’re very different from the other heroes I’ve known.”
“As if you know anything. I don’t care how others live.”
I sneered loudly and muttered under my breath.
“Out of 163,417,413 heroes, there should be at least one like me, right?”
My confident sophistry left the Demon King looking completely flabbergasted.
She chuckled briefly before her eyes lit up with intrigue.
“Hmph, fine. I believe you. However, you’re still lacking compared to what Eldritch can offer, so I’ll need an even bigger condition.”
“If you don’t find out the location of Eldritch’s vessel for me, regardless of being my guardian or anything, I’ll kill you right now and then take my own life.”
Is this what they call ‘a carrot and a stick’? If it was persuasion before, this is now blackmail.
You should realize, oh Undying Demon King, that it’s not your time to exert power.
“… Hmph!”
Three consecutive responses left the Demon King speechless.
Her fiery red eyes glared at me intensely. Perhaps thinking I was bluffing, her face relaxed slightly.
“Try me, if you can. Nobody knows better than you that death is not easy.”
“Seven Sword Pierce.”
Kzzzzzzz!
Seven swords immediately shot out from my clenched Vestark.
Four of them hovered near the Demon King’s neck, and the other three precisely targeted my own throat.
“Talk is cheap, isn’t it?”
“…”
“For a guy who’s died twenty-two times, the twenty-third won’t matter.”
I proudly pointed Vestark directly at my neck.
She must have read the truth in my darkened eyes because she gasped softly and reluctantly nodded.
An exasperated smirk spread across her face.
“Fine. You, Hero, will have to prove the value of this betrayal.”
“Just say the word.”
I extended my hand and shook hers.
After exchanging a light handshake, I inwardly let out a long sigh of relief.
“… Whew. We’re good.”
The bravado worked.
It wasn’t that I wasn’t scared. To be honest, the reason I even pulled off this spectacle was to avoid dying one more time.
Are you insane? I didn’t come here to agreeably kill myself along with her.
‘After dying twenty-two times, should the twenty-third not scare you anymore?’
That’s a dumb assumption. The more times I die, the more fear of death compounds each time.
‘Well, anyway.’
With this, all the actors are truly gathered. Now, it should be the final act.
I hope you’ve washed your neck clean, Eldritch. Whoever you are.
“Everyone, I have someone I’d like to introduce you to today.”
That morning,
I grandly revealed the Demon King at the communal breakfast scene.
Dressed in a modest white dress borrowed (technically stolen) from Leira, she wore a short cape to hide her wings and a black circlet to conceal her horns.
At the very least, she looked externally like a very pitiful little girl. At least, externally.
“… Wow.”
“Oh, what a beautiful woman.”
Of course, everyone except Seop Baek stared at the new arrival with wide eyes.
And now I realized even Seop Baek’s eyes were wide. Perhaps it’s because the sudden change in her outfit made her look unfamiliar.
I explained to the curious crowd.
“Certainly, let me introduce her. This is my long-time acquaintance, Ruci.”
“… Nice to meet you all. This body… no, I’m Ruci.”
Yesterday’s five-hour-long ‘sermon delivered for your own good’ had been effective indeed.
Evidence? Right now, Demon King Ruci is bowing her head courteously to greet everyone—even though her face was trembling with humiliation.
‘Still, compared to her initial arrogance, this is a major improvement.’
By the way, the name ‘Ruci’ was just a quick abbreviation of Ruthika.
The real name was off-limits. It’s not like we’re advertising the return of the Undying Demon King.
I carefully observed the spectators’ reactions.
“Uh… this is sudden. So many unexpected events since yesterday, isn’t it, Jung Yong?”
“That’s true. Could you explain a bit, please, junior?”
“Haha…”
While Halsenberg rubbed his chin pensively, and Leira watched me intently, Seop Baek sheepishly smiled and quietly nibbled on her food nearby.
From their reactions, though they’re certainly suspicious, they don’t seem to realize this woman is the Undying Demon King.
Seop Baek witnessed her reincarnation yesterday, but she probably doesn’t grasp the gravity of the title ‘Undying Demon King.’
So to her, the Demon King Ruci is just ‘a mysterious girl born from a party member’s strange ritual.’
“… Whew. We’ve passed the hardest part.”
Though we’ve concealed all distinguishing features thanks to her outfit, it won’t help much if someone recognizes her face.
However, fortunately, it doesn’t seem like Halsenberg has memorized the Demon King’s face.
‘Wasn’t it something about her dying thirty years ago and then returning to life?’
In this region, where wars with the Demon King Army were frequent and life expectancies were low, thirty years ago feels like ancient history. It’s normal that not many people would have a clear image of her face.
In this case, it’s better to boldly step forward.
I stood Ruci front and center and declared.
“She’s our secret weapon for this mission.”
“… Secret weapon?”
“Yes. With her help, we’ll be able to find out the location of Eldritch’s vessel.”
Upon hearing this, even Halsenberg and Leira stared at the Demon King with shocked expressions.
“… What. What are you all staring at?”
Centered on the Demon King, who looked visibly irritated, a heavy silence fell over the room.
