Chapter 34: Upheaval in the Demon King Castle
As Sage Time(?) came to an end and Kim Sung-tae finished preparing to return to the Demon King Castle, he quietly pressed a hand to his forehead, racking his brain over the current situation.
"Want some candy?"
"I can't eat that stuff..."
"How about this then? It's bread."
"That too..."
Mukkebi was surrounded by elderly priests offering her all sorts of snacks as if she were their granddaughter. But she made a weary face, unable to eat a single one.
This whole mess had started after Sage Time ended, when the priests questioned Mukkebi's origins and Aria told them everything.
"I've finally had a child too!"
"Ooh! So this child is... the child of God!"
"As expected of Lord Bryunak! Born not as a baby but already a girl!"
The priests, who already believed Sung-tae was the incarnation of God and trusted Aria's words implicitly, harbored not a shred of doubt. They saw her birth form as a miracle from God. And didn't she look just like Aria? The two, identical like fish-shaped buns, left no room for suspicion—she was unmistakably the saintess's child.
Aah.
And Sung-tae, now out of Sage Time...
Me, a married man? Me, a married man! No way!
Kim Sung-tae. Age 20 this year. Virgin. Married man.
He was a bachelor who should never have that label, but now it was stuck to him, driving him mad.
So the path he chose was swift escape. Back to the Demon King Castle, never setting foot in the Saint Country again.
I'm not some scumbag who makes a kid(?) and runs! If anything, I'm the wronged one! I didn't even do anything like that, and now I'm a dad? A virgin dad!
"Mukkebi, come here. Time to go."
"Yeah, got it."
Mukkebi, Garba, and Kim Sung-tae gathered together. Perhaps sensing their farewell to the divine, Aria and the other priests assembled to see them off.
"Thank you so much. O God. Not only granting us a child, but returning the holy relic as well."
"It wasn't mine anyway."
In place of the vanished divine spear, Sung-tae handed over his sword, Gloria. It was a fine blade, but he didn't need to be picky about weapons, and he had the World Tree bow too—so it was like a donation to the temple.
"But aren't you sad? She's going with me."
Sung-tae asked Aria, who had been so thrilled to call her her child. Yet she didn't seem particularly saddened that she was leaving with him.
"Yes. Won't I serve in God's work at your side? Becoming an angel and dwelling in heaven—there's no sorrow in that. I can convey my heart through prayer anytime. Being in heaven is the same as always staying by your side."
"Hmm. R-right."
Her deeply theological response left Sung-tae awkward as he pulled out a scroll. He just wanted to get out of there, go home, and rest for a while.
"Well then. Take care."
"May peace be upon you, O Incarnation."
As Sung-tae tore the scroll, light enveloped the three. The bright glow from the magic made Aria, watching them, notice something off.
A shadow?
The light spread from the scroll. Though Sung-tae was bathed in it, a small shadow around him didn't vanish.
Suspicious darkness. She meant to warn him, but they had already disappeared.
Must've been my imagination.
God wouldn't carry suspicious darkness around. Deeming it her mistake, Aria erased the memory from her mind.
"Phew."
"Welcome back, Demon King."
"Yeah. This adventure was brutal. I wanna rest at home for a bit."
Gepelt greeted Sung-tae's party as they emerged from the magic circle. But his expression was brighter than usual.
"Huh? What's up? Something good happen?"
"Heh... Do you know I've been engraving magic circles on the monsters?"
"I've seen it a few times."
"That work is finally complete!"
It had been grueling days. No sleep, pouring all time into the circles. Of course, as a tree demon who needed no sleep, Gepelt wasn't particularly troubled.
"Really? Wanna go check it out?"
"Yes. I had them on 24-hour standby in case you came anytime."
"...Sorry about that."
Kim Sung-tae followed Gepelt outside. Before his eyes unfolded a grand sight: thousands, tens of thousands of monsters prostrating toward him.
"Loyalty to the Demon King!"
"Loyalty!"
[Clack!]
The moment Sung-tae appeared, the monsters roared their greetings. Most were skeletons, so the "clacks" drowned out the "loyalty," but their spirit was the real deal.
"Whoa, impressive!"
"So, Demon King, when shall we set the date?"
"Date?"
"Yes. They're all fired up to invade the human realm. Under Ignis, no one showed such zeal. It's all thanks to you, Demon King!"
"..."
So that's why he strengthened them—for invasion. Sung-tae, not keen on war, pondered how to respond to Gepelt's expectant gaze.
"Um, Gepelt. Y'see, I'm kinda beat from this adventure?"
"Yes, Demon King."
"So no human realm for a while. Gonna chill at home."
"Pardon?"
"Alright! I'm beat, so later!"
Fearing he'd be held back, Kim Sung-tae bolted. Watching his retreating figure, Gepelt let out a long, bitter sigh.
"Haa... I thought he'd at least say good job."
Gepelt felt a twinge of disappointment that Sung-tae hadn't praised the time and effort he'd poured into the magic circles. Of course, if it'd been a direct order, he'd have expected praise. But this was Gepelt's solo initiative, so he held no major grudge.
"Someday he'll give the order."
The Demon King Castle's sole mage thought positively. But neither Sung-tae nor Gepelt noticed.
"Time to start my backlog research."
That the darkness Aria had seen—the shadow lurking in Kim Sung-tae's shadow—had just transferred to Gepelt.
To have loyal subordinates too... How envious.
And that this darkness envied everything Sung-tae had, to madness.
After returning from the Saint Country, mentally exhausted Sung-tae spent the day lounging in his room, wallowing in idleness. If he needed food or bathroom breaks like normal, he'd have died ages ago. Even now, recalling the saintess incident made him roll on the bed in agony, wishing for death.
"Virgin but a dad... No... It's fine. Won't go to the Saint Country. No one else on the continent knows."
"Demon King! Behold our strengthened selves!"
[Clack!]
Relentlessly tormenting him were the Demon King Castle monsters who'd undergone Gepelt's procedure.
Minotaurs and skeletons burst into Sung-tae's room, eager to show off their changes.
"Yeah, I get you're stronger now, so leave me alone."
"Behold! Our bolstered power!"
[Clack!]
The minotaurs bore magic circles across their bodies. Twice as massive, muscles like steel, resistant to mid-tier magic, and berserk magic boosting physicals on command.
[Clack! Clack!]
Skeletons had steel-hard bones, gained slight reason beyond mere orders, wielded swords and bows with basic techniques, and super-regeneration to revive even from dust.
"Hyah! Hyah!"
[Clack! Clack!]
"..."
These enhanced monsters sparred in Kim Sung-tae's bedroom to prove their might. Spacious as it was, it was still a bedroom. Weapons swinging turned it into chaos.
When they finished, the room was wrecked—everything intact except Sung-tae's bed.
"How was that, Demon King!"
[Clack!]
The monsters beamed, expectant of praise. Kim Sung-tae, bedridden for days, rose and fanned them away with his palm.
"All of you, out!"
"Graaak!!!"
[Claaaack!!!]
"The Demon King goes too far."
[Clack...]
Booted from Sung-tae's room, the monsters complained to Gepelt en route to healing.
Even with enchanted bodies, Sung-tae's fan hurt.
"So much effort engraving those circles."
"Probably not satisfied at Demon King level. He's too strong."
"Wish I were as strong as him."
The minotaurs chatted about Kim Sung-tae's strength, whom they admired. But thoughts shifted.
"Why doesn't someone that strong invade the human realm?"
"Maybe 'cause he's from humans?"
"Arm bends inward, huh? Hesitating on invasion?"
So strong, yet no action? Suspicion turned to jealousy.
If I were that strong, I'd have conquered the continent long ago...
If I were that strong, I'd rule the world's peak...
Clack... clack clack...
"What're you all doing here?"
"Lord Gepelt, need healing."
"Only he could injure you. Come in."
Their thoughts faded entering the lab. But jealousy seeds had sprouted—not just in them, but all castle monsters.
Demon King sure is strong. Hurting my enhanced monsters like that. Envious. If only I were as strong...
And that seed...
How wonderful it'd be.
Had been planted in Gepelt too. Larger and brighter than any monster's.
Be jealous. And devour.
"Futile."
Healing the monsters, Gepelt gazed at the plaza where others sparred, testing their power. He smiled proudly at his handiwork. As mage and researcher, it pleased him, but doubts about Sung-tae arose.
"Strengthened them this much, yet what holds the Demon King back?"
Weeks passed; Sung-tae hadn't emerged. Occasional cries like "I'm not married! No! I'm a virgin!" baffled Gepelt, who saw only wasted time.
"Doesn't like the monsters' gains? Too strong for this level maybe."
Then, clutching his chest, Gepelt gritted his teeth against pain.
"Ugh!"
Periodic since Sung-tae's return. As a tree demon, his endurance was vast, bearing any agony silently.
"Nngh..."
But this soul-deep torment made him groan for the first time.
And after, the voice. Hallucination or thought, unclear.
Because he's strong. So strong, he ignores the weak's feelings. No matter how hard you try, you can't win his heart. Your efforts mean less than dirt under his nails. The haves are always like that.
"Not true..."
Then tell me. Has he ever sincerely praised you?
"When I engraved the armor..."
No. Not praise. Just using you. No sincerity. Treating you like a useful tool. Tools get "useful," not "thanks."
"Shut up!"
Gepelt bellowed to chase the dark voice. Panting, a sudden commotion drew his eyes to the monsters.
"Why are you stronger than me?"
"We had the same procedure—why only you?"
[Clack.]
Defeated monsters in spars glared resentfully. Victors muttered too.
"Winning doesn't make us stronger than Demon King..."
"Demon King? Can't even beat Garba."
"Before that, can't beat Gepelt..."
"Everyone, stop! Why fight?!"
Monsters turned to Gepelt, jealousy blazing in dazed eyes, ready to incinerate him.
"Why aren't we strong? You didn't even get circles, Gepelt."
"No, but... if we all gang up, maybe we win."
"!?"
Monsters advanced slowly, faces shadowed. Narrow-minded envy rejecting superiors.
"Kill..."
[Clack...]
"Insolent."
Gepelt. Once one of Ignis's Four Heavenly Kings. Unrivaled mage of the castle.
"Die! Gepelt!"
"Gravity."
His spell slammed plaza monsters to the ground, embedding like puzzle blocks.
"Grow, as I command."
Another spell sprouted roots from barren earth, ensnaring the few who rose against gravity. They couldn't twitch a finger.
"Strange. Why would the monsters..."
"What's going on?"
"Demon King."
Gepelt startled, turning. Rumored pained Sung-tae had overcome it, emerging with Garba.
Sung-tae asked about the plaza noise. But Gepelt eyed Garba.
Demon King needs no guard. He's strong. Then why bring Garba? Why only her?
"Gepelt?"
"Nothing. Just disciplined some climbing monsters."
"Hmm. Alright? Well, your work has reasons."
Just that? Gepelt had hoped for praise, or even scolding—anything showing interest.
"Garba, anywhere you wanna go? Everywhere I want seems demon-tainted. Time to shake it off and adventure again."
"Anywhere my lord desires is fine."
"What I want is what you want."
Why does she monopolize his attention? Useless guard, tailing him—better than me?
As Gepelt burned inside, the dark voice burrowed deeper into his soul.
See? You're just a tool. Best case, a dog. House-guarding dog. While she trails him, you wait endlessly.
Still think I'm wrong? Not too late. One way to monopolize his interest.
What is it?
Gepelt's eyes blackened.
Kill that woman. All attention on you. Kill other monsters too. Then no one else left. Right?
Yes. That works.
"Garba, stop right there."
"...?"
Garba halted beside Sung-tae, turning. Gepelt before her was no longer humanoid.
Though same Four Heavenly Kings origin, she'd never seen his true form—a colossal tree demon, new even to her.
"Gepelt?"
I'll kill you... and everyone here.
"Huh? Gepelt? What's with you suddenly?"
Sung-tae questioned Gepelt, but blinded by jealousy, Gepelt saw only Garba. Envy's vision narrows to intolerance, seeing nothing else.
I will be the Demon King's sole subordinate!
His world held only himself and Garba.