Chapter 60

◈ Chapter 60. The Self-Proclaimed Demon King (1)

It started to make sense.

From the moment the Demon Legion Commander appeared.

"…Demon Legion Commander? Why are they here?"

"They all have a clear common feature, you know."

"Common feature?"

Seong Hyun-jun thought deeply and then slapped the table.

"Ah! Their appearance is as unappealing as pigeons!"

"Hmm— Forget it. It was my mistake to ask."

"Why, what's the problem? So what."

"They all have bird heads."

"…Bird heads? Oh, you're right."

Frost, where the top players from various countries gathered.

Among them, Ho Yeol, who showed outstanding performance.

Was it because he was drunk on national pride?

He casually dismissed the appearance of the demons.

Yoon Su-gyeom clicked his tongue at the late realization of Seong Hyun-jun.

"The Demon Kings took their concepts from legends and myths…"

"Yes, that was definitely the case."

"Among them, there exists a Demon King related to birds."

Yoon Su-gyeom, speaking seriously, turned the monitor.

Seong Hyun-jun cautiously opened his mouth.

"…Dekarbia?"

"Yes, Dekarbia."

"One of the 72 demons who commands birds…?!"

Seong Hyun-jun's eyes widened.

"Senior… This is a bird head…!!"

"No, not yet."

If that was all, I wouldn't be 99.9% sure.

Click—

Yoon Su-gyeom immediately switched the screen with the mouse.

The monitor displayed a satellite image of Frost.

Seong Hyun-jun tilted his head.

"Why the sudden satellite image, Senior?"

"Just look."

"We already confirmed this at the beginning. The smoke obscured everything. What's the point…? Oh?!"

A clear view of Frost's landscape.

Yoon Su-gyeom continued, as if asking what was so surprising.

"The moment the Demon Legion Commanders flapped their wings and blew away the smoke."

"Wow. Did you capture that, Senior?"

"Yes. I have to earn my keep. I'm tired of just earning a salary, you know."

"…Wait a moment, Senior."

Seong Hyun-jun, who was looking closely, muttered in confusion.

A clearly visible red pattern.

It was a star drawn in blood and corpses.

A pentagram.

'…This is definitely it?!'

Click—

Seong Hyun-jun, moving the mouse instead of Yoon Su-gyeom.

Switching the window, the image of Dekarbia appeared again.

Yoon Su-gyeom nodded.

"Yes. A demon with the form of a pentagram."

★ and ★.

Looking back and forth between the two pentagrams on the screens, he spoke.

"Can we confirm this 100%, Senior?"

"The star pattern drawn in blood and corpses, it fits, doesn't it?"

"Yes. It's definitely part of the Demon King summoning ritual."

"In that sense, it's fortunate."

"…?"

Here.

Yoon Su-gyeom pointed with the mouse cursor.

When zoomed in, strangely enough.

There were no corpses scattered in that area.

Was it a mistake by the demons?

No, that wasn't it.

Seong Hyun-jun, in disbelief, spoke.

"Wait a moment. This area…"

"Yes. It matches the route Ho Yeol took."

"Does that mean he was advancing while cleaning up the corpses?!"

"Even if we can't know the intention, that's probably what happened."

By that reasoning, it seemed clear why so many monsters had gathered on Ho Yeol's side.

Ho Yeol was the one directly interfering with the Demon King summoning ritual.

Yoon Su-gyeom nodded.

"This time, we might be able to help Ho Yeol."

If we know the identity of the Demon King.

We can prepare for it.

In that sense, information about Dekarbia is important.

"I'll look it up right away!"

There must be some stored data somewhere.

Opening the search bar and searching through files, Seong Hyun-jun spoke.

"Senior, I found it."

However…

The situation wasn't good.

Or rather, the compatibility wasn't good.

"…What? Knowledge of all plants and 'minerals'?"

Of all things, minerals!

In the past, and even now.

Wasn't Ho Yeol the one using alchemy skills with stones?

Damn.

I was determined to provide helpful information.

"Of all the things I found…"

Of all things, such pessimistic information.

Seong Hyun-jun spoke softly.

"Resistance to earth attribute magic will be considerable."

"Considering the bird head, that concept is valid."

"…But it's Ho Yeol. He has many other skills!"

"That's true. But one of his main skills will be useless."

Yoon Su-gyeom muttered.

"Moreover, the opponent is a Demon King."

It was inevitable to be worried.

No matter how much Ho Yeol is.

One of his main skills becoming useless.

Is a significant penalty.

But worry and what needs to be done are separate.

Seong Hyun-jun took a deep breath and opened the messenger.

"Phew. Should I pass this on to the Gaon side, Senior?"

"That would be good. Since they've joined forces with Ho Yeol."

"…Please. I hope they have some hidden trump card."

I don't know about Ho Yeol…

But I thought it was too much to hope for.

After all, Ho Yeol is a magician, isn't he?

'Suddenly, ta-da! Wielding a sword and fighting…'

Dori dori—

Seong Hyun-jun immediately shook his head.

It was so ridiculous that he laughed at himself.

"Desperation makes me imagine useless things. Me too."

I need to say something that makes sense.

*

Nam Cheol-min's briefing came through the speakers.

I spoke.

"I see."

The Demon King's identity was Dekarbia, that guy.

Of course, it was a name I hadn't heard from the Akshan demon hunters.

The Demon Kings they mainly mentioned were high-ranking Demon Kings…

In other words, the top-tier Demon Kings.

'Not hearing about it is actually fortunate.'

While Granfel's pride won't be shaken by any demon.

I, who must bear that pride, am different.

I must always struggle…

I inwardly sighed in relief, but the atmosphere around me wasn't good.

-It's a dilemma, Mr. Ho Yeol.

Those who started to comment, starting with Nam Cheol-min.

"So, according to AAU, skills using minerals won't work, right, bro? Naturally, the stone pillars and stone walls that Mr. Ho Yeol mainly uses will be ineffective?"

Nam Tae-min, who had treated his injuries.

He hadn't fully recovered his stamina.

But his face was full of worry.

Leoni spoke bluntly.

"What, is that all there is? Damn it."

Of course, I felt nothing.

Even though I've been eating through alchemy.

I have more than just alchemy.

'I've struggled in various fields, and it's paid off.'

Fortunately, there was someone who knew my efforts.

My swordmaster, Harcon.

"You have a good but overly worried companion, Sir."

Harcon seemed to be subtly hopeful.

After all, Harcon believed my true talent was in swordsmanship.

That reaction was understandable.

But…

'I can't guess his reaction.'

I looked at Kichi.

Was he shivering?

Brr—

Kichi shivered.

Of course, he wasn't thinking deeply.

Other people's thoughts or evaluations.

They weren't even worth Granfel's attention.

"Don't worry."

I said that.

Yes, there was something else to focus on.

I checked the flashing quest window.

[Class Quest: Demon King (魔王) Elimination]

The king of demons.

Their influence is spreading.

Final demon hunter.

Destroy the throne of evil.

─Train your weakened body. (Repeat)

─Investigate the northern city of Frost. (Success)

─Save the survivors. (In progress)

─Interrupt the Demon King summoning ritual. (In progress)

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

The last Demon Legion Commander fell.

This achieved the quest's goal.

But the quest progress didn't turn to success.

That meant simply.

'There's still something left.'

With all the Demon Legion Commanders fallen.

The Demon King's army was effectively destroyed.

Click—!

Harcon sheathed his sword and said.

"There's no time to waste on the broken spirits."

The spirits are broken.

Other players will take care of them, doing their best.

For the sake of experience and contribution.

So my job was simple.

"Go to the square."

The central square of Frost.

The center of the pentagram.

In other words, the center of the Demon King summoning ritual.

The obstacles were gone.

I soon reached the Frost square.

"…How can this be."

At the center of the star.

As many lines intersected.

The scattered corpses formed a mountain.

The spilled blood was like a sea.

The Lion Heart Knights, led by Harcon, bowed their heads.

"O Lord. Grant them rest."

Grinding—

Nam Tae-min gritted his teeth.

Jae-si pressed her cap down.

Leoni kept cursing.

Players wouldn't feel different emotions.

This was reality.

Real people had died.

It was natural to feel devastated.

At that moment.

One of the corpses twitched.

"…Ah."

Everyone reacted to the groan.

"…A survivor!"

"Wait, that face…?"

"Isn't that the Lord of Frost?"

Yes, it was the Lord of Frost.

Harcon spoke.

"Lord Silion…? Is that you!"

"Could it be, Sir Harcon…! How can this be!"

"Oh, Lord."

Lord Silion.

Thinking rationally, it was natural to have doubts.

He was among the corpses.

How could he be the only one to survive?

But Lord Silion was crying.

"The Emperor has not abandoned us…!"

That was enough to dispel the doubts of those watching.

His face and voice.

Were exactly the same as the known Lord Silion.

But I knew.

[Eliminate the Demon King].

The class quest wasn't over yet.

───────

Natural Enemy: Combat power significantly increases when fighting demons.

───────

Moreover, the effect of [Natural Enemy].

From the moment I entered Frost until now.

It never disappeared.

Most importantly.

I had experience.

Enough to fool the surroundings and the world.

The succubus who perfectly acted as Baek Isul.

The experience of facing a demon.

Yes, that was the question I had since I realized it.

Demons revealed themselves in reality.

It had only been a few years.

Yet, demons were already naturally integrated into reality.

Then.

In the homeland of demons, Arcana.

How many demons were hiding among humans?

Of course, I couldn't answer that.

When did I know the situation in Arcana?

If I had continued playing Arcana, maybe.

But I had a gap of over ten years.

But one thing was certain.

This was not the Lord of Frost, Lord Silion.

At the same time, the quest window flickered.

─Eliminate the Demon King Dekarbia. (In progress)

I declared in a cold voice.

"You are as ugly as can be."

"…!!!"

"The act is over. Demon King."

It was contempt.

"O king of an inferior race. While sending your subordinates to their deaths, you hid among humans. Aren't you ashamed?"

As a noble.

The Demon King's despicable actions were unbearable.

My declaration left my companions visibly shocked.

"…King of an inferior race? Sir, what do you mean?"

Even Harcon, who was approaching Silion, took a step back.

But the shock didn't last long.

Dekarbia, that guy, began to reveal his true nature.

"Stupid human, you've misunderstood."

Crack—

Silion's body changed instantly.

It was no longer Silion.

Silion's body began to crumple mercilessly.

He spoke to me.

"I didn't send them to their deaths. It was a noble sacrifice for the king."

I soon understood his meaning.

The crumpled mass.

It began to absorb the blood and corpses.

"I'll praise you. Your interference was meaningful. However."

If by interference, he meant the cleanup of the corpses.

At that moment, the Demon King's army flew in from all directions.

Accurately, they mixed with the sacrifices and were absorbed into the mass.

"Sacrifices don't have to be human."

Dekarbia, that guy, absorbed the Demon King's army as additional sacrifices. The mass, growing larger, began to take shape.

A pentagram formed by blood and flesh.

As the star appeared, the sky was covered in darkness.

The Demon King, Dekarbia.

He had fully resurrected.

[The Demon King, Dekarbia, has appeared.]

[You have entered the living hell, 'Frost'.]

So what?

But I was not shaken.

I spoke as usual.

"Do not defile true sacrifice."

Sacrifice.

For pride.

To protect Frost.

A word that can only be attached to those who gave their lives.

"You don't have the right."

Perhaps because I was increasingly immersed in Granfel.

Or perhaps I truly felt that way.

At this moment, my mouth didn't falter.

The flesh of the pentagram trembled loudly.

"The moment your arrogance is crushed is eagerly awaited. I have already seen through your magic. Sadly, since rocks are merely minerals, your greatest skill is as good as sealed."

…What?

Greatest skill?

It seems he's completely mistaken.

'Granfel's skill is something I can't even gauge.'

I calmly checked my status.

My mana reserves are sufficient.

The 'suitable mana' required by black magic is abundant.

The stamina for sword energy emission hasn't been wasted.

So there was no hesitation.

[The 'Possessed Sword' has been chosen as the sacrifice.]

[The skill, 'Exorcism Ritual', has been activated.]

[The Demon King, Dekarbia, is being invited to the 'ritual'.]

"Shut that ugly mouth of yours."

"?!?"

"Self-proclaimed Demon King."

Whoosh—!