Chapter 137. The Demon King's Army, Descent (1)
“Kuluk... kuhuk...!”
It hurts.
It feels like my whole body is splitting apart.
No, more like I’ve been hit hundreds of times with a baseball bat.
In fact, it was only natural.
A shockwave had exploded right in front of me, dozens of rock fragments, each as big as a fist, had pummeled my entire body.
If I had been just an ordinary person?
I would’ve been dead for sure.
So dead, my corpse wouldn’t even be worth a silver coin.
“... Hoo, huuk!”
Kim Jangcheol barely managed to steady his breathing. Then, shaking his head, he tried to regain his senses.
His mind buzzed loudly.
It felt like he was hearing hallucinations.
But even amidst that, one fact became clear.
The disguise from the elixir of transformation had been undone.
“.........”
Had he passed out for a moment?
Probably so.
Still, thanks to the fact that the body of the Demon King, Credos, was naturally very durable, it was fortunate—if one could call it that—that he wasn’t seriously injured anywhere.
‘But…’
What would the King and the Archbishop’s reactions be?
Kim Jangcheol glanced toward the bearded dumpling-like King. He observed the King’s expression carefully.
***
“Huh... huh, huuh...!”
Astonishing.
His mind felt suddenly clear.
No, more like he had been struck on the back of the head with a hammer.
In truth, it was only natural.
He had discovered the true identity of his loyal subject, Kim Jangcheol. He had witnessed it with his own eyes, undeniably, unmistakably.
‘Sir Kim Jangcheol... was a demon?’
If it had been anyone else but this loyal subject?
He would have ordered them executed without question.
“Haha, haah, haha...”
The King barely stifled a hollow laugh. Then, shaking his head, he tried to collect himself.
His heart pounded heavily.
A desire to deny reality.
Yet even amidst that, one fact became undeniable.
That this demon, known by the name Kim Jangcheol, had sacrificed himself to save the King from death.
“……”
Was he truly a demon?
That much could not be denied.
The pair of horns sprouting from the man’s head was proof. No human, elf, or orc—no race could possess such a trait.
‘Then, what should I…’
How should he treat this man?
For a moment, he was confused.
Demons are dangerous.
They are the wicked beings of the abandoned lands.
Like a thorn embedded in his mind for a lifetime, a long-held prejudice screamed at him. To order the royal guards to strike down this man at once. To exterminate him like a pest.
But the King’s heart conveyed a different message.
‘Even if he is a demon... no, even if—though it cannot be—he is the Demon King himself! The fact remains unchanged: Kim Jangcheol risked his life to save mine!’
So his race did not matter.
What mattered was what he had done.
What mattered were his accomplishments.
‘The one who risked his life to protect me—what does it matter if he is a demon or anything else...!’
Come to think of it, among humans too, there were many insolent fools who coveted the throne. Yet this man? Despite being a wicked demon, he had protected the King instead.
That was the most important fact.
It would never change.
That alone... was enough.
“Royal guaaards—!”
Having made up his mind, the King shouted.
Before the Archbishop could realize the true identity of Sir Kim Jangcheol, before religious prejudice drove him to harm Kim Jangcheol,
He had to protect him!
No matter what!
***
“The captain of the royal guard! Immediately protect that man! Sir Kim Jangcheol! Guard him!”
It was astonishing.
His mind suddenly cleared.
No, it felt as if the religious convictions and certainties he had held all his life were starting to crack.
Perhaps it was only natural.
He had seen the true nature of the one he believed to be the saint of ten. He had witnessed the stark, naked truth with his own two eyes.
‘Sir Kim Jangcheol... was a demon?’
Archbishop Rephelon barely managed to breathe. At the same time, he swallowed dryly, trying desperately to hold on to his reason.
His lips trembled.
An overwhelming sense of confusion.
Yet even amidst that, one fact became clear with certainty.
‘He’s a demon... without a doubt.’
His eyes were not mistaken.
Yes, he couldn’t deny what he had seen.
The pair of horns sprouting from the man’s head, and the aura emanating from his entire body, all testified to it. That man was a demon from the abandoned lands. Moreover, a very high-ranking one.
‘To think the saint of ten had descended into this world in the form of a demon…’
It felt like being struck in the head with a giant hammer.
He was confused.
A part of him wanted to deny reality.
But another part of him heard the religious chant of the Book of Perfection resound in his heart.
The Book of Perfection.
All beings in this world are imperfect, and so they must seek perfection, striving toward their own completion.
That was the essence of the Book of Perfection.
An imperfect world.
Imperfect beings.
Therefore, the pursuit of perfection.
But did the saint of ten have to be human?
“... No.”
That was not the case.
He could be a demon, or even a devil.
He could be a beggar, or even a frog.
What did form matter?
How hollow and fleeting was the shell called race?
All of it, in the end, was merely a reflection of their imperfection. Ultimately, to overcome that and advance toward perfection—that was the true teaching of the Book of Perfection.
“......!”
The Archbishop’s whole body trembled greatly.
Another realization.
And with it, tears flowed.
Casting off prejudice with the true teachings of his faith.
“Kuhuhk!”
Today, I will, as the Archbishop, stake everything to protect that man, even if he is of the demon race, even if he is the saint of ten! I will save him, no matter what!
Having made up his mind, the Archbishop ran.
Toward Kim Jangcheol.
Charging forward, his hands fully loaded (?) with the highest-level healing magic he could cast. He cried out, at the top of his lungs, the name of the precious saint of ten.
***
“Sir Kim Jangcheol—!”
A cry that pierced into his ear canals.
And not just from one side, but from both sides simultaneously.
At that sound, Kim Jangcheol couldn’t help but give a bitter smile.
It was understandable.
‘What’s going on with both of them?’
The King and the Archbishop.
Both were calling out to him from opposite sides, desperately, shouting as if they were tearfully reuniting with a long-lost family. How could he not give a bitter smile at such a scene?
‘Ever since I came to the royal capital, I seem to have become popular only with men... older men at that.’
Not exactly an ideal situation (?), but hey, it could be worse.
‘At least, it doesn’t look like they’re trying to kill me.’
Honestly, up until a moment ago, he had been more than a little nervous. He even thought he was doomed.
It had been good to save the King.
It had been good to protect his financial backer.
But the result—having the disguise of the elixir of transformation undone—was a disaster.
‘I thought I could endure it.’
The greatsword swung down by the statue.
When he narrowly avoided the direct hit, he had sighed with relief, as if his life had been shortened by ten years. But right after that, when he was swept up by the shockwave and the shower of fragments exploding right in front of him, he knew he had slipped up.
“.......”
So, in the end, the true form of the Demon King had been revealed in the very heart of the royal capital.
Because of that, he had been expecting that all the scams he had carefully carried out so far would come crashing down in ruins.
But the result?
It turned out to be the exact opposite.
“Captain of the Royal Guard! Immediately! Protect Sir Kim Jangcheol!”
“Sir Kim Jangcheol—!”
“.........”
The bearded dumpling King stomping his feet in worry.
The Archbishop running toward him in tears.
By the looks of it, neither of them had any significant prejudice (?) at all.
‘Hahaha, ha…’
Was it thanks to his risking himself to protect the King? That explained the King’s reaction, but why was the Archbishop rushing toward him like a fan meeting their idol at a fan club event?
He didn’t quite understand.
To be honest, even now, he wasn’t entirely sure why they were acting like this.
Which meant, he had to drive the point home. He had to properly sway them, so the goodwill of the King and the Archbishop didn’t fade.
Because that would be to his advantage!
‘Huh!’
Resolute, Kim Jangcheol took a deep breath.
Then, steeling his face, he shouted loudly.
“Today! All of us stand before an unprecedented disaster—a massive statue rampaging through the royal capital!”
Fwoooaaah!
Kim Jangcheol’s shout, imbued with the power of the Demon King, echoed throughout the plaza.
He continued shouting.
“Before such a disaster! Nationality! Gender! Race! Skin color! Appearance! None of these matter!”
Thwack!
He kicked off the ground.
This time, toward the statue, which was about to swing its greatsword down on the many citizens who had not yet escaped.
He ran.
He threw himself forward.
With one hand, he scratched the back of his other hand.
In an instant, the skin tore open. A sensation both familiar and painful, felt for the first time in a while. A stream of blood flowed out.
Pahhat!
He swung his hand at the statue’s leg. The spattering blood marked the leg of the statue.
At that moment, a red flash struck the statue.
…Bzzzt!
The electrified leg of the statue faltered.
The statue’s motion, about to bring down the greatsword, was delayed for a moment.
Kim Jangcheol shouted.
“Therefore! Today! We must set aside all prejudices and negative perceptions toward each other, even if just for now! For the greater cause! For peace! We must cooperate!”
While shouting, he gestured with his eyes.
Toward whom?
The King and the Archbishop.
Looking around at everyone in the plaza.
He drove the point home, shouting like hammering in a nail.
“If you agree with me! Raise your hands above your head like cheering ‘hurrah’, put your hands up!”
…Kwaaaang!
As he shouted, another red lightning bolt struck the statue! An overwhelming flash cutting through the sky and earth!
Thus, the statue stumbled backward, unable to harm the citizens, and in that moment, Kim Jangcheol’s shout pierced everyone’s eardrums with perfect timing.
It was a perfectly majestic piece of agitation.
A murmur of admiration escaped from the King’s lips.
Tears of emotion shimmered in the Archbishop’s eyes.
The two raised their hands almost simultaneously.
“I... agree! Put your hands up!”
“In the name of the Book of Perfection! Put your hands up!”
At the moment when the two most influential figures in the plaza raised their hands, the game was over.
“P-put your hands up...!”
The captain of the royal guard, loyal to the King, instinctively followed his sovereign and raised his hands. The royal guards, trusting their captain, followed suit. Seeing this, the citizens hesitated briefly, then raised both hands toward the sky.
Raising them.
Agreeing.
Admiring.
All the citizens of the royal capital were swept up in the atmosphere, cheering and agreeing to the Demon King’s agitation.
“Then since everyone agrees! Disguise, release!”
Kim Jangcheol shouted boldly. Responding to his call, Artanis and the three Four Heavenly Kings joined in.
There was nothing left to hide.
It was time to use their full power.
As if they had been waiting for those words.
With joyful hearts.
Everyone threw off the disguises of the elixir of transformation.
…Tukwahk!
The Witch of Melody, Artanis.
The Blood Flame Four Heavenly King, Asurat.
The Monarch of cold, Sirgi.
And even the Black Boulder Tyrant, Baal.
The former Demon Queen and the Three Four Heavenly Kings of the abandoned lands descended in their true forms at the very heart of the kingdom.
This one is so exciting! I'm waiting for further interaction between Aged Kimchi and Kim Jangcheol!
I really enjoy reading this, and I adore the loyalty Credos' people held to him!