Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Four Heavenly Kings Line (3)
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“Raden!”
“You okay?”
The remains of Line’s body lay scattered in ruins, and I stared at them blankly. Vina and Rainy came running up late.
The battle was already over, but I was grateful they’d followed anyway.
Rainy approached the debris with light footsteps.
She fiddled with the remains for a moment, then nodded.
“Yeah, completely disintegrated. Nice and clean.”
“No chance of revival?”
“Not even a legendary necromancer could bring him back from this.”
“…”
With Rainy’s guarantee, Marey wore a strangely proud expression.
She seemed satisfied with the power of her body slam.
“Haa… Alright, let’s head back for now.”
It was a shame my dreams of a new home had gone up in smoke, but what was done was done.
I knew clinging to the past wouldn’t help, so I swallowed my tears and moved on.
Then.
Rumble rumble.
The blackened debris, scorched by holy power, began to clump together.
“What the—?”
Rainy, who had just declared him dead, made a bizarre face like she’d seen someone rise from their coffin at a funeral.
Whirr.
Without a word, Marey summoned her holy power, preparing for round two.
I did the same.
Of course. A Four Heavenly King dying this easily? Doesn’t add up.
He must have some hidden ace up his sleeve I didn’t know about.
I heightened my tension.
Just like protagonists come back stronger after dying, villains respawn even more powerful. It’s a trope.
This next fight wouldn’t be easy.
Soon, the debris merged, and Line reappeared.
Only now, his size had halved, and his shovel was smaller too.
“Firing now!”
Vina, who had an arrow nocked already, gave the signal.
At that instant, mini-Line dropped to his knees.
“Surrender! I surrender!”
“Huh?”
Vina was set to loose her arrow and start the fight, while Rainy was ready to swing her fist right after. She let out a dumbfounded noise.
They’d been bracing for a Four Heavenly King battle, so an instant surrender had to be disorienting.
“…”
“…”
The women froze in place, unsure what to do after the sudden white flag.
I read the room and quickly approached Line, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Then I whispered in his ear.
“Hey.”
“Yes.”
“You wanna live?”
Line nodded.
His shovel gleamed, looking brand new after the revival.
“One promise, and I’ll let you live.”
“Wh-what… kind?”
“You know construction?”
“Pardon…?”
***
“No, I told you not to use holy power like that?”
“… Like this?”
“Argh, so frustrating!”
Back in my room amid the academy chaos from the raid.
I blasted holy power at Line, who was bound head to toe, while Rainy scolded me.
Come to think of it, Rainy had already used Heresy Conversion on Nania, so her cooldown wasn’t up yet.
I’d considered dragging him to the Church as a last resort, tears in my eyes.
But theory said I could use it too, so instead of dumping him on them, I was trying to subjugate him with my own power.
“There, wrap the holy power lightly around it. Like binding his neck—got it?”
“Ah… I think I get it.”
Line, already wrecked from the holy baptism, trembled as he watched.
“Just… kill me…”
He begged for death from the agony.
Sorry, but he was vital talent for my SimCity dreams. No dying allowed.
I ignored his desperate plea and gathered holy power in my hand.
“Sorry, I’ll do my best.”
“No… please…”
“This time it’s perfect. Now shout it.”
Line frowned dubiously and muttered quietly.
“Demon God’s a moron. Glory to the Goddess.”
My holy power around his neck glowed brightly in response to his surrender vow.
Moments later, Line unleashed a horrific scream.
“Gaaah! Gaaah! My body!”
Eyes rolling back from the intense pain, he shrieked.
Nania hadn’t suffered this much when it was used on her.
Guess I failed again.
Rainy gave me a pitiful look.
“Sh-should I try again?”
She frowned at the holy power pouring from my hand, then shook her head.
“It’s super sloppy, but it’s kinda working. Should hold if you maintain it.”
Good, not a total failure needing a redo.
My holy power was running low anyway. Relief.
“Gaaah!”
Meanwhile, Line kept screaming, tears streaming.
I felt a twinge of pity, but steeled myself.
Poor guy or not, he was one of the Demon King’s brutal Four Heavenly Kings.
Not like he’d done just one or two bad things. This punishment fit.
If he were a pretty demon girl like Nania, maybe sympathy. But a grubby demon dude? Nah.
I hardened my heart and poured out more holy power.
Soon.
Whirr.
A pattern engraved itself on Line’s shovel.
“Gaaaaah!”
His screams grew louder. About five seconds later?
[Safety First] appeared carved on his shovel.
“Hiiik… Heek…”
Writhing on the floor from the aftershocks, gasping for breath.
A bit cruel, but I lightly slapped his cheeks.
“Ugh…”
“Hey.”
“…Yes…”
Line instinctively knew his life hung on me, responding meekly.
“All done. Good job.”
“Hic… Finally…”
Tears of relief poured from Line.
The process must’ve been hell.
I patted his shoulder.
“First mission right away. Head to Daven Territory and follow orders from the acting lord there.”
“Huh…? Won’t they kill me on sight as a demon?”
“Nah, don’t worry. The acting lord’s a demon too. Say I sent you, and she’ll get it.”
“…?”
Even with my kind explanation, Line tilted his head, unconvinced.
I dragged Nania out from her corner hiding spot.
“Nooo! No!”
As a traitor who’d betrayed demons, she hated facing a fellow Four Heavenly King and resisted fiercely.
“C’mon, just show your face. He’s a teammate now anyway.”
“Even so…”
I whispered sweet nothings in Nania’s ear.
The kind she’d fall for hook, line, and sinker.
“Back in the demon world, you were under this guy, right?”
“Yeah…”
“Now you’re the senior. Gotta show some dignity.”
Nania’s ears perked up.
“Se… senior?”
“Yeah, senior.”
“Senior…”
She murmured, then her eyes sparkled.
“You’re right! As a senior, I must show dignity!”
“Yeah, that’s my Nania.”
“Hehe.”
I brought the all-too-easy Nania before Line.
“Whoa! Traitor!”
Line recognized her too, eyes widening.
“Eek…”
Nania, puffed up on ‘senior’ talk, shriveled and hid behind me instantly.
I forcibly pulled her out.
Smack!
Lightly tapped Line’s head.
“Sip… Traitor? She chose good over evil—a fine demon.”
“…”
“Answer.”
“Yes, sir!”
Pleased with Line crawling like a dog, I pinched Nania’s soft cheeks.
“When he surrendered, all his underlings came with him. Smart one’s acting lord of my territory now. Go there and do what she says.”
“Yes…”
“Move out.”
“Moving out…”
Line, fresh off torture-like agony, wanted rest, but.
No more dude demons in my room.
“Haa… Life…”
Booted outside, Line sighed deeply.
I waved him off.
“Slacking on the way? You die. You could reach Daven in half a day, right?”
“…”
“I’ll check your arrival later. Behave.”
***
Having smoothly handled one of the Four Heavenly Kings, Line, I kept up my professor duties amid the academy chaos.
I’d already achieved my goal for joining, so I could quit citing the demon raid.
But teaching stirred a weird sense of responsibility for the students. Planned to stick it out till semester end.
I’d joined mid-term, so not much time left till finals.
“Hmm…”
Rolling my pen, pondering the final exam.
Creak.
The lab door opened quietly.
Students sometimes came for counseling, so I brushed it off.
“Knock first, please.”
“… It’s me.”
“Even Marey should knock. Manners.”
“I’m the hero. Don’t need to.”
“…”
I gave up replying, brewed her favorite sweet cocoa, and offered a seat.
Our relationship was odd, but Marey was my student.
Duty as prof to counsel earnestly if she wanted.
Planned to be nice.
Marey sat across, clutching the cocoa.
She stared at the marshmallows, then daintily gripped the mug, sipped, and got to the point.
“I wanna get stronger. Help me.”