Chapter 511
Chapter 511
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 511
Chapter Title: Quasi-Priest Kim Katt
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"Heh heh heh, what do you mean I got lost? Look at me, perfectly fine. No matter what happens, I always come back in one piece. Relax, Claudy. I'm not gonna die."
"Still... haah. Katt, I'm sorry. I was right there beside you..."
"I told you it's fine. Relax, our Claudy."
"...Seeing you collapse like that, I can't relax."
"It's fine, it's fine. This is all part of becoming a strong warrior. Gotta endure mental attacks too."
"..."
Clady must have been really worried.
If I comfort her back home, it'll take some time. Anyway, she tossed the demon Vugal—whose limbs had all been torn off—onto the ground like he was nothing, as if some devil meant zilch to her now, and hugged me.
"Grraaah... Wh-what... why...!"
"What? Regenerating again?"
While I was in her arms for a moment, Vugal let out a groan of agony and started wriggling. Shockingly, his severed limbs began slowly regenerating.
—Writhing.
This was the real world, not some illusory realm. Yet the bastard was showing off extreme regenerative powers, healing his body.
"R-regenerating?"
Winia stared at Vugal in surprise, approaching cautiously.
The thing was only about 50cm tall. Once regenerated, Vugal flailed and thrashed in the pool of his own blood.
"Y-you, you fucking bastard. Get over here, you little shit!"
"Kek!"
I barked at him, and Vugal quickly crawled out of the puddle, prostrating himself before me. The little demon was trembling. If not for those heterochromatic green and red eyes, I might've mistaken what this fucker really was.
This little shit seems like he packs some punch with that regeneration... and a magic sword, no less. Suspicious as hell.
"What, the Demon of the Sword Vugal? No pride at all? Bowing to a human? Devils have really hit rock bottom! This deal's off, Mad-Eye teacher!"
"Th-that's...!"
"Head up!"
"Yes!"
A few smacks and the fucker's gone all disciplined. Seeing this, the hits must've landed solid... Weird.
"Sp-spare me! I was wrong!"
"Spare you?"
"I'll give you my power, please!"
"Give me your power?"
Vugal rambled on with all sorts of tempting offers, promising to hand over his strength. Getting power for free sure sounds appealing.
But who knows what bullshit comes with that power?
I'm not dumb enough to accept an offer from some untrustworthy bastard like this. The moment I take it, odds are high I'll lose control of my body or go insane. Side effects would be nasty too.
Even if not, I have zero interest in devil powers.
"Fuck off, you moron. I build my own strength. Forehead out."
"My forehead...?"
I focused mana into my finger and flicked Vugal's forehead hard.
—Pwak!
"Krahhh!"
His horn snapped, his forehead caved in, and Vugal flew back, rolling across the ground before crashing into a tree.
—Kwang!
My finger-flick game's gotten pretty good.
An eyeball had popped out along his flight path. I picked it up.
"Heh heh heh, want some eyeball candy?"
"Ugh...! Why! Why is Vugal suffering like this!"
"I'm asking if you want the candy, asshole!"
I couldn't understand why every time I asked a question, these fuckers gave irrelevant answers. No one responds normally!
"Animersinger!"
"Kyaaaaah!!!"
Furious, I unleashed a barrage of finger-flicks like a madman. Vugal's head turned to mush, exploding from over two flicks per second.
—Plop!
This devil needed excessively brutal punishment.
—Crunch crunch.
Still, it regenerated eventually.
"Ughhh..."
"You fucking idiot. What the hell are you? A devil this weak?"
The bastard acted deranged at first, then shrieked at my question.
"W-weak! I am the Demon of the Sword Vugal! Countless warriors used my power to etch their names in human history! I have always been the mentor of heroes!"
"Bullshit. If you were that strong, you wouldn't have gotten wrecked by me."
Anyway, time to interrogate this guy properly.
Unlike that mental world of his earlier, this was reality. I had time. In his space, I didn't know what he'd pull, so violence only—but here, it's fine.
"I, Vugal, possess the authority to amplify swordsmen's prowess!"
The devil wailed, black tears streaming down. Was this devilish rage?
"Who the fuck told you to yell! Shut up!"
I didn't like his shouting, so I tore off his limbs like Claudy did. Regeneration aside, his durability sucked. Felt like ripping kimchi.
"Uwaaaah!!"
"I said shut up! How many times do I gotta say it, you fucking bitch!!!"
"I'll be quiet! I'll be quiet!!!! Please!!"
After some of that, Vugal turned utterly servile.
Nothing beats violence.
I asked my questions and curiosities to the now-polite bastard, and he answered sincerely.
"Hic... That punk I was with earlier was trash with zero sword talent... I used him as a temporary vessel out of necessity..."
"Yeah?"
That murderer from before had some skill.
Most folks charging him would've gotten diced instead of subduing him. Even a bunch of D-ranks got chopped. Only someone like me could wreck him; others wouldn't stand a chance.
But that guy was swordless trash?
Might be exaggeration, but if true, this devil's pretty damn strong.
Turning no-talent into that... If power like that was easy to snag, no wonder people fall for it. Vugal's trait amps more for stronger users too.
A mildly talented guy wielding this magic sword? Disaster. I basically nipped that in the bud. Doing good deeds lately.
Though it was just violence and torture, I saved the world again.
"So, what do you get out of all this crap?"
"More human suffering... and the negative emotions born from it."
"As expected."
Sacrifices: human blood and flesh. Pain. Negative emotions. Not all devils, but most crave it.
Devils with authority but lacking raw power use strength as bait for contracts, exploiting humans—that's Vugal's explanation.
Devils gonna devil.
"But 'vessel' again? Why obsess over possessing bodies?"
"Only then can we wield our true power from Hell..."
"Hm."
Proper possession lets devils use Hell-level strength. Vugal's weak now but was stronger in Hell. Whatever.
"Why's your regen so good?"
"Because I'm... among the stronger devils."
"Yeah? Now spill your real goal."
"..."
Vugal hesitated, then answered.
"Truth is, I was using that punk to prepare perfect possession... then switch to a stronger host."
"For more murders?"
"Yes."
"Figures... But here's what I'm really curious about."
I've already subdued this fucker. Means I can do whatever. He's tiny, can't rebel.
"Can you still turn into a magic sword?"
A bit of greed creeps in. Magic sword's intriguing. Don't need his power, but warriors dig quality blades.
"...Yes. Care to use me? As much as it pains me to say... with blood and pain, I'm yours anytime."
"Shut up and transform already—that's what I asked! Fuck, so frustrating! Quietly—"
"—Transforming!"
I raised my fist, and Vugal panicked, engulfed in black smoke.
—Shhrrk.
What appeared: a dagger about 50cm long.
"A dagger?"
"Powerless now... but quality's top-notch. Better durability than mortal metals."
"Better durability? You got sliced by me easy."
"That was the host gap... What should I call you, hero?"
"Whatever."
"Yes. Your disparity with that host was vast. A mildly talented swordsman as owner? Wouldn't go down easy. Sword aura's blockable if prepared."
Confident fucker, must be legit.
"A skilled wielder grabs me? I'd blast sword aura instantly."
"You can do that? Magic swords are bullshit cheats?"
"...That's why humans call us magic swords."
I gripped the hilt.
This was a magic sword.
But no carrying it raw. It's a devil that killed like that. Must pay brutally for sins.
Plus, walking with a magic sword's risky. Church folks like me, but they won't approve. Paladins would spot it instantly.
—Give up the sword?
Question: kill Vugal completely, keep the sword? Demanding that might shut him up. Torture won't work.
Any way?
Good blade's tempting. Rare metal quality.
"I sense your skill, hero. Allow my full authority? More blood to spill."
Swinging it idly, Vugal tempted. Devils always pull this shit.
Rage surged; I smashed it into a nearby rock wildly.
—Kwang! Kwang!
"Wh-whoa! Kraaaah! Stop! Stoooop!!"
"You dogshit! How many times I gotta say shut up!"
Swords ain't for this. Each smash chipped the blade, shards flying. Vugal screamed.
Once tamed enough, I asked.
"Oh yeah, curious: what's your true form? Devil or sword?"
"Kgh...! My true form is sword-shaped. Recover power, I could show it..."
Hard to kill, easy to handle.
"That true form the weak shit holding you earlier?"
"...No. That was severely weakened."
True form separate.
Gains tacky evil ornaments when powered?
Definitely some spiky, sinister-looking blade. Embarrassing to carry.
Hmm... what to do.
Ideally, seal this fucker, take the sword.
Extract soul or whatever.
Big job—not solo. Need church or Lisha's help. Maybe hand to church, they purify it.
Lucky? Trade for paladin sword. Magic sword for holy sword? Huge win.
"Yeah, is that so?"
"Y-yes. That's right."
No need for talking swords. Just sturdy. How to kill Vugal, keep blade?