Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: The Demonized Former Tower Master
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That gray beard and hair.
A robe with the same design, even if faded in color.
And his trademark, that long gnarled staff.
No matter how you looked at it, it was unmistakably Dershion Piguma, the former lord of the Aldeon Tower.
"Dershion...?"
Elbert seemed to know him too, reacting with particular surprise compared to the others.
Well, considering he had been the head of a magic tower, it would be stranger if Elbert, the knight commander, didn't know him.
"I heard that guy died not long ago."
"I thought so too, but there he is, standing plain as day."
Elbert narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Dershion.
I shifted my gaze along with him, but this time, instead of focusing on the fact that the man was Dershion, I zeroed in on what had changed.
Whooooosh—.
His eye whites were pitch black, like some demon's, and his skin had darkened to an ominous shade.
And then there was the thick demonic energy mingling with his mana.
It was definitely Dershion, but not Dershion.
He had fully taken on the form of a demon.
"Whoa... what the hell is this?"
Elbert noticed it too, expressing his shock once more.
I was just as stunned.
'I’ve never seen a human turn into a demon before.'
I'd seen kin who contracted with demons or those whose appearances twisted to resemble demons due to some power, but this was the first time I'd witnessed someone radiating demonic energy so perfectly.
Beyond my personal experience, even in the game's lore.
In the entire history of [Devil Fantasy], that is.
Even Elbert, who knew far more about the last century's events than I did, seemed completely in the dark...
This might be the first time something like this had ever happened.
And if that was the case...
'A new power from Baal?'
That was the most plausible hypothesis.
Somehow, Baal had gained a new ability.
The guy swapped out his powers whenever he got bored, and since Dershion had vanished near the rift where Baal appeared, it was entirely possible.
But...
'...Isn't that way too broken?'
If it was true, it spelled serious trouble.
From everything I'd researched about Baal so far, he mostly swapped sub-powers.
Sub-powers were relatively less threatening, so changes there didn't hugely impact strategies.
But a power that turned humans into demons? That had to be a main power, no question.
And one strong enough to demonize an 8th-circle archmage, at that.
This was no small matter.
Being able to turn high-ranking mages into his minions opened up endless possibilities.
Knight commanders, royal guards, transcendent other races. Hell, even the king.
No one would be off-limits.
Obviously including me.
Sure, powerful abilities came with restrictions, and he'd likely sacrificed one of his existing powers as a cost, but even accounting for that, the shock didn't fade.
No doubt about it—this was an ability that posed an ongoing threat.
'...It's not just me who's growing, huh?'
A realization I'd overlooked.
I'd achieved tremendous growth with mythic traits and soul imprints, but Baal hadn't been sitting idle either.
Not just this new power—during that 100-year gap when I wasn't around, who knows what massive changes he'd undergone that I didn't know about.
And that directly increased the odds of me losing in a fight against him.
All the info I'd gathered from battling him in the game would become useless.
If that was the case, how the hell was I supposed to fight him...?
Frustration welled up, and I let out a breath.
"Whew, calm down."
I'd gotten too worked up without realizing it.
Nothing was set in stone yet.
I could uncover Baal's secrets bit by bit, so no need to panic prematurely.
Right now, I only needed to focus on one thing.
Subduing Dershion Piguma.
Of course, given the skill gap, it'd be impossible alone...
"Looks like you'll have to put in some effort this time, Commander."
"Seems that way. That demonic energy looks too dangerous to just sit back and watch."
By my side was Knight Commander Elbert Tairan, armed with power and strategy strong enough to never bow to the original Dershion.
Together, we could definitely handle him.
"Follow my lead."
"I'll keep up as best I can."
Sring.
Elbert, signaling he'd take the lead, drew a long sword from the sheath at his waist.
It was somewhere between a knight's symbolic longsword and the light rapier favored for speed—perfectly fitting, and apparently his main weapon.
As that thought crossed my mind.
Fwoosh!
Elbert vanished in an instant from beside me.
I'd missed the movement entirely and whipped my head forward.
Clanggg!
There he was, already swinging at Dershion.
'...Couldn't even react.'
As expected of a knight commander.
Neither Barundel, Thompson, nor I could replicate that speed at our current level.
It was awe-inspiring.
'To reach that speed, he'd need to fully embody light in his body, right?'
Not long ago, I'd tried wrapping myself in light instead of electric transformation magic and gotten burned badly due to my lack of skill.
If I had to guess, he'd need to harness light perfectly to match that velocity.
That’s how astonishing his speed was.
But why was this happening?
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Dershion was blocking Elbert's barrage of strikes at that insane speed.
With nothing but that gnarled staff, no magic wrapped around it.
How was I supposed to process this?
'...He's... stronger?'
Dershion had always been powerful enough to lead a magic tower.
But from my direct experience, he wasn't on Elbert's level.
He'd been obsessed with 'true light' research and never cared much about raw power.
So while he might hold his own in summoning magic or knowledge battles, in pure martial combat, he'd never match Elbert.
Yet now...
Whoosh! Clanggg!
Anyone could see they were evenly matched, trading blows.
Dershion had clearly grown stronger.
And given the circumstances, there was only one reason.
'Baal.'
It had to be that bastard's doing.
"This is ridiculous...!"
Slashhh!
Elbert, flustered, unleashed a few more strikes before retreating to create distance.
His face was twisted in disbelief.
Well, he had more reason to be shocked than I did.
After decades honing his swordsmanship, to be pushed back in close quarters by a mere mage.
He might be feeling a profound sense of loss, like his life's work was being denied.
But facts were facts.
Elbert soon accepted it with resignation.
"...Unbelievable. Can't think of him as just a mage anymore."
"Does he look normal to you?"
"Right. Honestly, a bit embarrassing. I nearly put myself in danger. Time to change plans."
Change of plans.
In the context of subduing Dershion, that meant one thing.
"Got it."
Hold back and endure without pressing forward.
Truth be told, as long as no more demon forces came down, we held the advantage.
The royal reinforcements would arrive soon enough.
Just the heavy hitters coming to mind—royal guards, Asion Gail, 1st District garrison knights—numbered plenty.
With them here, a powered-up Dershion would be dealt with without a second thought.
The problem was...
Thud, thud, thud—.
Whether Dershion would play nice until then.
He advanced, radiating chilling demonic energy in all directions, and parted his parched lips.
"...It's been a while, Yoo Han."
A chill ran down my spine.
"What, he can talk?"
Some higher demons with intelligence could speak languages occasionally.
But it was always in demonic tongue, never this clear.
Yet Dershion's words just now were crisp and precise.
As if he were the Demon Legion Commander himself.
Maybe because his base was human?
I didn't know the exact reason, but being able to communicate was actually a welcome development.
"How have you been, Master?"
"M-Master?"
Elbert shot me a look like, what the hell?
Come to think of it, I hadn't mentioned it.
"I learned light magic from that guy. Not that his intentions were pure, and I can't really call him human anymore."
"Huh, so that's how it is."
Elbert nodded in understanding.
I turned back, and Dershion spoke as if waiting.
"Yes, I've been well. Too well, in fact."
Thud!
Dershion abruptly slammed his staff into the ground.
Then...
Shwaaaa—!
The eerie demonic energy swirling around him spread outward, putting everyone on edge.
With a sinister smile, he continued.
"I've been reborn under His will and granted eternal life. Though I've lost the light that accompanied me my whole life, it's more than worth it."
"Oh, really?"
Dershion showed no hint of regret.
As if he couldn't care less about light now.
Who would've thought the man who'd craved it so desperately would change like this?
Demonic power was terrifying.
"So you're enjoying your new life?"
"Yes, it makes my past life seem utterly pathetic. If only I'd pursued darkness instead of light from the start, I could've lived far richer... Foolish. I was so foolish."
'Crazy bastard.'
Did he hear my inner thoughts?
Dershion suddenly glared into my eyes.
"...But now that I've embraced darkness, that's what matters."
Thud!
He slammed the ground again.
Even denser demonic energy surged out, enveloping Elbert.
Ssssh.
It didn't bind him physically, but it felt utterly repulsive.
Amid it all, Dershion kept talking.
"For old times' sake, I'll give you a chance. Abandon the light and walk the path of darkness with me?"
Ah, so that's why he'd beaten around the bush. Trying to convert me, huh.
What an irony.
The mage who'd first taught me light magic in this world was now preaching darkness.
Was there a more comical situation?
"Man, seriously. What is this, middle school edgelord phase...?"
Fwaaah!
I immediately wrapped my body in light magic.
As if proving the matchup, the light repelled the demonic energy.
A gesture of refusal through action.
"Too childish for me, for real."
"...What?"
Provoked by my taunting words, Dershion scowled.
His eyes bulged, ready to unleash hell on me any second.
But no matter how he glared, it was pointless.
"You go ahead with your darkness or whatever."
I'd never set foot on that path, not even in death—