Already the Demon King
'I'm screwed.'
Kim Sung-tae, who had been walking silently while staring at the horizon, fell into despair. He'd momentarily forgotten due to the inexplicable surge of lust from the succubus, but he was too strong. Not just strong in a good way, but strong enough to cause problems in everyday life.
'Damn it.'
Even now, that overwhelming strength was causing issues right before his eyes. Even when he tried to tread as lightly as possible, the ground cracked like parched farmland in a drought. And when he gave a slight push fueled by his gloomy mood, the earth flipped over, sending up rock spikes like a porcupine.
If just walking did this, how could he possibly travel properly?
"Garba, humans... they do exist, right?"
"Yes. The foolish humans' kingdom lies beyond this territory."
"Really? Elves, dwarves, beastkin... saintesses, everyone's there?"
"They're all detestable scum. You needn't concern yourself with them, Lord Kim Sung-tae. We'll handle them!"
"Haa."
It was a world with every fantasy element imaginable. The problem was that in his current state, he couldn't coexist with any of them.
What if I went on an adventure...?
Let's say he entered a human city. The moment he stepped in, the drawbridge to the castle would shatter. Guards would swarm, and even as he apologized, a casual punch would rip them apart like a typhoon tearing through the earth. In a game, he'd earn a massacre-related title for sure.
Okay, fine, say we gloss over that somehow. The real issue is companions.
The adventure he dreamed of wasn't just any adventure. It was a rom-com romp with a female knight, a female mage, and a female priest—an exhilarating journey filled with fun chats and good times with beautiful women!
Female knight...
The female knight was stoic but blushed when alone with him. She acted cool and dismissive in front of others, but secretly adored him—a classic tsundere.
Female mage...
The female mage, raised solely on magic training, knew nothing about men. She'd unleash her curiosity on him, and he'd kindly teach her, guiding her into a mature woman.
Female priest...
The female priest was a pure, innocent maiden who'd never even held a man's hand, devoted to chastity. On their quest to defeat the Demon King, unavoidable skinship would occur, and she'd gradually fall for his touch. At journey's end, she'd offer her body and heart to him.
'None of that's possible!!!'
Sung-tae's fantasies shattered upon colliding with reality. Diving into a monster horde to heroically save the female knight? The shockwave would disassemble her, leaving only her sword hand. The female mage groping him out of curiosity? A ticklish flail of his arm would erase her from the waist down. A shy hand-holding stroll at night? One swing, and she'd become a star in the sky, hand still gripped in his.
Whatever he did, only gruesome deaths awaited them.
'Urgh. And in this state, I couldn't even have sex at night!'
Sung-tae believed that for healthy adults, intimacy was key to true union. Suppose they reached that final destination(?). With meticulous control, he'd undress her and prepare for the act on the bed. But could he control this power while aroused? One uncontrolled thrust of his hips, and his lover—and the building—would turn into a puddle of blood.
Just thinking about it is horrifying.
With his very wholesome tastes, Sung-tae wanted no part of that.
"How can I get weaker...?"
"Pardon? Lord Kim Sung-tae? What was that?"
"Nothing."
The man so strong it was sad. Kim Sung-tae. Under Garba's guidance, he pressed toward the heart of the territory.
Hm? What's that?
Sighing inwardly at his plight while glancing skyward, Sung-tae spotted something gleaming black and pointed at it with a finger.
"What's that? A star?"
"Danger!"
A red flash shot from the black star toward Kim Sung-tae. Garba rushed in, embracing him to shield him. She tried to shove him aside, but it was like colliding with a mountain—Sung-tae didn't budge.
"Urk!"
Thus pinned against Sung-tae, Garba's body was pierced by the red flash. It pressed on, striking Sung-tae as well. Of course, it caused neither wound nor pain.
"You okay?"
"I-I'm fine. Are you alright, Lord Kim Sung-tae?"
"As you can see. I'm perfectly fine, so don't pull that stunt again."
She's even stinkier up close. Bad breath and body odor too.
At Sung-tae's response, Garba's eyes welled with tears.
Urgh. He worries for a weak subordinate like me. A true man. From now on, I'll call him my lord! I'll dedicate my life to him!
"To think you'd show up so soon. That light just now was the Demon King's technique, Red Flash."
"Red Flash?"
What a childish name. Not even creative—just describing what it looked like.
Wait. That's the Demon King?
Sung-tae stared piercingly at the black star. Sure enough, it wasn't a star—it had a humanoid form.
"Already the Demon King?"
[Hmm. A traitor among us, eh? I'd heard rumors, but...]
The black star descended to the ground. Towering over two meters, clad in gleaming black armor that exuded crushing charisma, it dominated the air. Its massive hand could crush a human skull like an apple, and red flashes gleamed from within the helmet like a beast's eyes.
[Are you the one who felled Glak and made Garba your subordinate?]
"Yeah, but... you're really the Demon King?"
[Impressive. When did you cast the spell? Such tremendous wind magic.]
The Demon King, having taken Sung-tae's exhaled storm barehanded, praised him. Sung-tae was equally surprised.
He didn't even flinch.
Until now, anyone hearing him speak would get swept away by the storm or barely endure like Garba. Even she had to whisper softly to hold on; normal speech would have killed her with internal injuries.
Yet this guy took a casual verbal gale without a care.
That armor? Or is he just Demon King-level strong?
[Here's a proposal. Submit and become my subordinate. Then we can end this painlessly.]
"Not really interested."
He'd come for adventure, not to serve someone. And suddenly demanding subservience? Offended, Sung-tae glared at the Demon King.
Demon King, huh. Maybe time for a real fight?
[Hmph. No choice then. I'll make you submit!]
Red mana steamed from the gaps in the black armor, heating it until smoke rose.
[You seem strong, so I'll go all out from the start. Don't die. I need to fill a Four Heavenly Kings slot. And...]
The Demon King's red eyes turned to Garba.
[You. Once this is over, time for some discipline. I gave you too much freedom, and you betray me? Disobedient beasts need training, don't they?]
"Heh. You won't beat my lord!"
[Oh? Looking forward to it.]
"Everyone, fall back! Don't get caught in my lord's battle!"
Garba and her hundred werewolves fled to a safe distance. Proud warriors though they were, they knew recklessness well. In this situation, that meant not spectating Sung-tae's fight up close. Staying out of the way was their best contribution.
[Now, take my flames!]
The Demon King thrust his fist. The red mana and scorching haze wreathing it was calamity fire hot enough to melt diamond, burning the air and creating a vacuum as it slammed into Sung-tae's face.
"Nice and toasty. A bit hotter than lava, huh."
[Hm? What? Defensive magic?]
No mere flesh could block that. An incredible mage. Enhancing his natural strength with magic, eh? Time for a more direct assault.
Acknowledging he'd underestimated his foe, the Demon King prepared a proper strike.
[Let's see how long that defense holds.]
Red mana gathered in the Demon King's hand, forming a longsword. Flameblade Ranglaxis—a weapon he'd forged himself, slicing all with its heat and sharpness.
"That weapon is dangerous!"
Garba shouted from afar, watching the fight.
To draw it already...
Just seeing the blade made the scar near her eye throb. That's what had inflicted it.
Dangerous. Not just the sword. The Demon King's strikes are flashy swordsmanship built on martial might. Can my lord dodge...?
She trusted her lord, but that blade was an exception. Even she, who could tank most blows, was helpless against it.
The blade that cuts all...!
It could slice the world's hardest metal, Black Oriharcon. That sword had refined the Black Oriharcon into the armor the Demon King now wore. Invincible in offense and defense.
Lord! Please be safe!
Garba clenched her fists. Meanwhile, the Demon King danced toward Sung-tae, his heat creating hundreds of afterimages that filled earth and sky.
[Hahaha! Can you even track me? Don't just stand there—entertain me!]
"Hmm..."
Sung-tae raised a hand in guard as the Demon King charged head-on. The storm from that motion blew away the frontal afterimages, but soon his voice echoed from behind.
[Over here. Poorer eyesight than expected.]
The Demon King's sword, Ranglaxis, stabbed into Kim Sung-tae's back. Disappointingly dull fight—the Demon King's eyes cooled. It was over. The blade would melt organs and burn the soul.
[Boring. Unsuitable as a subordinate?]
"Hey. Got a question."
[!?]
How was he unscathed? He'd buried it hilt-deep!
The Demon King retreated, yanking the sword free. But his beloved blade had powdered from tip to insertion point, leaving only the hilt.
[Impossible! My sword!]
"Shut up. Let me ask."
Clunk. The bladeless hilt hit the ground with a hollow ring. To the Demon King, Sung-tae loomed gigantic—an insurmountable mountain. No, something more absolute, an invincible sovereign.
"What's your name?"
＊＊＊
If I defeat the Demon King and eventually enter the human world, I can brag, right?
As the Demon King attacked, Sung-tae mused on future human-world scenarios.
'I'm the one who defeated the Demon King. Haha!'
'Oho, incredible! Are you a hero? Name your reward!'
'No need for gold or jewels. It was for the world's sake.'
'Then how about my daughter? I wish to continue the hero's blood in our royal line.'
'Well, if you insist...'
How awesome would that be! Marry a princess—no need to toil for money, gain royal status and power! Two birds with one stone.
First, I need his name.
Bragging about slaying an unnamed Demon King would make him a fraud.
Ow, that stings.
Sung-tae turned at the prickling on his back. If the first hit was warm, this felt like a red-hot chopstick jabbed into flesh and pulled out.
Impressive, Demon King. Making me sting. He's strong.
"What's your name?"
[Urgh. Invading my territory and you don't even know my name!?]
"I didn't come here by choice. Just tell me your name already."
[And what’s yours? I want to hear it before I kill you.]
"Sung-tae. Kim Sung-tae."
[Odd name.]
The retreating Demon King unleashed his mana wildly. Endless demonic power surged skyward like a blazing pillar, dyeing the heavens red around it.
[I am Ignis. Ruler of calamity fire, Demon King who shall conquer the world!]
"Ignis. Ignis... Got it. Easy name to remember."
[Urgh! Mocking me!?]
His rage poured down like rain. Not metaphorically—flaming rain fell from the sky.
"This won't work on me."
[Your body's toughness is clear, but think that'll beat me!?]
"Hmm. Maybe not. Guess I need to attack?"
Ignis's mana enveloped them both. The endlessly condensing power—calamity fire mana—melted the ground into a lava field beneath their feet.
[Can you survive this!?]
"My clothes... ruined."
Sung-tae kicked off the lava, leaping at Ignis. The shockwave vaporized the molten pool instantly.
"They're burned!"
Ordinary attack.
Not worth blocking—a plain punch. The earlier ground-shatter irked him, but Ignis was confident.
My armor can't be pierced!
Impervious to any flame or blade—Black Oriharcon armor, forgeable only by his flameblade Ranglaxis.
I'll tank it and obliterate this place!
Even he had never condensed calamity fire like this before. The more it compressed, the deadlier it grew—perhaps hotter than the sun, ready to engulf the territory.
Subordinates can be replaced. First, kill this insolent fool!
No longer interested in recruiting, Ignis met the incoming fist with his armor.
Or tried to.
Crack!
The Black Oriharcon didn't bend or dent—it splintered like dry bark.
[Gah!]
Sung-tae's fist pierced the armor, punching through Ignis's body and out the other side. The shockwave carved a straight scar across the land. A distant mountain vanished; dust clouds rose, turning the red sky black again.
[H-How...!]
Blood trickled from under the helmet, igniting like his mana. The dissipating mana around them revealed his dire state.
"No big deal."
Damn, too strong.
Seeing it as a chance to test his power, Sung-tae had punched lightly—as if just pointing. Yet this devastation.
Still, feels good.
As his fist shattered the armor, Sung-tae recalled cracking a crab shell after devouring the meat.
That satisfying crunch.
[Kuh... Kuhahaha!]
Ignis burst into mad laughter. Sung-tae eyed him pitifully, muttering.
"What? You crazy?"
But Ignis wasn't mad. Murderous intent and mana overflowed around him.
[To push me this far... Good. Perfect! I'll pour everything into taking you down!]
"Oh..."
And Sung-tae beheld it: Ignis steaming from his armor. A mountain-sized fire spirit, the true form of the calamity fire Demon King.
[You'll regret encountering this body.]