Chapter 333: translated
I Killed the Demon King. It was a Mistake.
Chapter 333
Shalibi was filled with the shouting voices of blacksmiths and the sound of hammering.
"Melt down all the unusable swords and armor!"
"Collect the magic steel separately! We'll use that for circuits!"
"You idiot, I told you that's not how you wind the Magic circuit."
"No more Magic stones? They're in the warehouse? Then go get them right now, what are you waiting for!"
Masterpiece swords, armor, and shields made by master craftsmen were all thrown into the furnace, melting and disappearing into molten metal.
Even weapons embedded in the heroes' graves were all pulled out and melted down to be made into sleek slingshot launchers and net launchers.
Some blacksmiths and knights felt uncomfortable seeing weapons containing the spirits and souls of ancient heroes melting into machine parts, but they weren't bold enough to directly oppose Giggs' decision.
"Making these is actually easier than I thought?"
"Should we try making them a bit bigger?"
"If we adapt this, I think we could make it into a ballista."
Of course, given the characteristics of Shalibi's blacksmiths who loved craftsmanship and uniqueness, there were no cases where they made slingshot launchers or net launchers exactly as Theon had taught them.
Some forges created net launchers in the form of cannons so large they couldn't be carried alone, while others created completely random ballistas.
"You fools! How can you just make whatever you want! I told you to make them exactly as I instructed!"
Of course, Giggs and Pesson scolded the blacksmiths for this sight, but there was no way to stop the blacksmiths' artistic spirit. Civilians recruited from Shalibi received basic training from former officers or non-commissioned officers.
"Basically, if you know how to shoot a gun, you can shoot a slingshot launcher or net launcher. Only the loading method is different."
The sight of people from young boys to the elderly all gathering to receive military training to protect Shalibi was beyond mystical, it was marvelous.
As everyone was busy working to protect Shalibi, Olivia also worked hard and learned under Theon.
"So you wrap the iron thread around the elemental stone like this?"
"Exactly. You really learn quickly."
"Well, isn't this something anyone can do?"
"There aren't many people who can do it this meticulously."
Olivia became proud upon hearing Theon's praise and eagerly made various magitech bombs, even forgetting to eat.
'She's much more talented than I expected.'
Olivia could memorize the entire internal structure of a machine just by looking at it once. She even intuitively understood what each machine part did. She seemed like someone born to do this work.
Olivia smiled at the completed magitech bomb.
"Great! I think I've finished all the ones made with volcanic stones. What else do you have?"
"We have giant stones. Would you like to try making something with these?"
"I'll give it a try."
Olivia tightened screws with a screwdriver and wound circuits diligently, not even realizing there was oil on her face.
Person approached Theon quietly and said:
"She's more dedicated than I thought."
"Well, when you're doing something you enjoy, you don't want to leave."
"Try to convince her well. Even I can see she's someone we can't afford to lose."
"I'm letting her get immersed gradually. If I approach too hastily, she'll run away. I know from experience."
"Well, I guess you'll handle that your way."
At that moment, the sound of horse hooves was heard outside Pesson's forge.
"What's that?"
When Pesson went outside, he saw a knight riding hard toward them.
The knight stopped in front of Pesson.
"Sir Giggs asked me to deliver a message."
"What did Giggs say?"
"After hearing that Sanctus Lumen was occupied by devils, the holy knights and nobles scattered across the land have decided to gather their forces and converge on Shalibi."
Pesson's expression brightened.
"Really? When will they arrive?"
"The holy knights seem to be gathering by branch and coming right away, and for the nobles, it depends on the distance, but those nearby should arrive within a week."
There's always a way out. Pesson clenched his fist.
"So we just need to hold out for about a week, right?"
"That's right. Well, I need to inform others, so I'll be going now."
Hope was finally beginning to appear. Just one week. If they could hold out for just a week, they could survive.
But as hope grows, so does despair.
Bang! Clang! Bang!
The sound of fighting came from the north of Shalibi. Pesson could see devils jumping over the palisade.
"Oh my God..."
***
Aurora deflected a devil's fist with her shield and then stabbed its nape with her sword. With one clean strike, the devil crumbled, but she was hit directly by a fist that emerged from the side.
"Ugh!"
Aurora rolled on the ground. She couldn't breathe properly, but Aurora couldn't stop. This was because a devil with a fist as big as Aurora's torso was leaping down to strike her. Aurora barely managed to raise her shield to deflect the fist, but the impact was so strong that her entire body felt like it was breaking.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Aurora couldn't regain her senses due to the continuous blows. Eventually, as Aurora's shield opened, she could see the devil's sharp teeth rushing toward her.
The creature charged forward with its mouth wide open as if it would swallow Aurora's head whole.
'I can't block it...!'
At that moment, a strange capsule-like object flew toward the devil's body. When the capsule hit the devil, it made a sound like breaking glass and instantly froze the devil.
Aurora looked in the direction the capsule had come from.
There stood Olivia holding a slingshot launcher.
"Lady Aurora!"
Crack! Crack!
As the devil tried to move again, Aurora immediately slashed her sword horizontally.
Slash!
The devil's head was severed and its body collapsed. Aurora saw Olivia inserting a red capsule into the slingshot launcher.
"What is that? What kind of magic were you using?"
"It's a magitech bomb made from elemental stones. This one uses glacier stone as the core magical source."
Olivia, who used to only evaluate cosmetics and alcohol every day, now seemed like a strange blacksmith or wizard.
However, that change wasn't particularly bad. It was because she looked much more vibrant than when she was at Count Vex's mansion.
"I see. Thanks to you, I survived."
When Olivia heard the praise, her shoulders naturally perked up.
"Well, this much is Ha! Well, Ha!"
Olivia, seeming unaccustomed to receiving praise, just scratched her head.
In the distance, soldiers wielding slingshot launchers and net launchers could be seen starting to subdue the devils.
They were soldiers consisting of young housewives to elderly people. When the soldiers subdued a devil, knights would rush in and stab the devil's vital point with weapons coated in holy oil to kill it.
"Did we just kill a devil?"
"It's true, isn't it? We can kill devils too!"
"The battle isn't over yet! Everyone reload!"
At the commander's order, the soldiers quickly began reloading their net launchers and slingshot launchers.
At that moment, something strange caught Aurora's eye. In the shadows behind the soldiers, a crescent moon-like sharp blade flashed.
"Be careful...!"
Slash!
With one swing, five heads were cut off.
"Aaaaaaaargh!"
As their comrades died, the other squad members fell into a state of panic.
These were newcomers who only knew how to aim and fire, not veterans who could find composure amidst the horrors of war.
The devil swung its sharp blades like a mantis. Aurora rushed in with her sword, but due to the distance, an entire squad was completely wiped out.
"Aaaaaaaargh!"
The devil swung its long, scythe-like forelegs toward Aurora.
Aurora deflected the blade with her shield and then thrust her sword toward its heart.
Aaaaaahhh!
It writhed in agony as its insides burned.
Aurora cut off the head of the creature that was wildly swinging its scythe. She gritted her teeth as she looked at the dead soldiers.
Although they could somewhat counter the devils, they were far too weak compared to the knights.
"All knights come up to the stockade!"
Bitterness and anger felt like they were about to flow up her throat, but Aurora didn't lose her rationality by getting caught up in these emotions. Aurora and Olivia strode up onto the stockade.
Upon climbing onto the stockade, Aurora couldn't close her mouth. Hundreds of devils were lined up in formation.
"...What are those? Are they knights?"
"I think so. They're all wearing armor."
"Wait, isn't that the armor worn by the Holy Knights?"
All the devils were wearing armor, and on the chest and pauldrons of the armor was drawn the blue flame symbolizing the goddess Dre. The problem was that those wearing the armor all had one or two horns on their heads.
"Did all the Holy Knights become devils?"
"Then the Sanctus Lumen operation..."
"Failed."
From among the devils lined up in formation, a man wearing a snow-white religious robe and an ornate jeweled necklace walked out.
Everyone immediately recognized who the owner of that robe and necklace was. It was Pope Alexander VI.
Alexander smiled and opened his mouth.
"My people."
Alexander's voice was calm but reached everyone standing on the stockade.
"Do not be afraid. I have come to save you, not to bring the rod of discipline."
"The reason you dare to raise weapons against me is because you have not yet been reborn, and the reason you refuse rebirth is because of the veil of ignorance covering your eyes."
Alexander caressed the horns on his head.
"Receive this beautiful crown. Then you shall become kings of this world like me. Remove the veil of ignorance and you shall taste the eternal paradise where no one suffers and no one dies."
"Is that kingship about becoming less intelligent like that?"
Alexander shifted his gaze to the direction from which the voice came.
It was Giggs.
"Can those guys actually speak and think for themselves? No matter how I look at them, they seem to be merely your puppets."
"Master Giggs, don't you already know this fact?"
"What?"
"The reason people suffer is because they cannot accept and practice wise counsel. Foolish ones always fail to accept the wisdom of prophets and end up stepping into the swamp of suffering. I can no longer bear to watch such shameful behavior."
Alexander raised his hand.
Then five knights walked forward. No one present was unfamiliar with those faces. They were all Baptized ones.
"Those worthy of receiving my teachings can be given freedom."
Nel smiled gently and bowed to the Pope. The other four stared at the soldiers on the stockade with blank eyes.
"But if you do not think of accepting my teachings, I will have no choice but to control you in the name of love."
The Pope placed his hand on Luca's shoulder.
"So choose. Will you be a fool who superficially accepts my teachings? Or..."
The Pope pointed to Nel.
"Will you be one who embraces my teachings with your heart?"
The Pope enjoyed the terrified expressions of the people.
"I give you one day from today. If you truly accept my teachings, do not leave Shalibi and swear loyalty to me. Then I will give you my blessing. But..."
As the Pope gestured, the holy knights simultaneously stomped the ground.
Thud!
When hundreds of holy knights stomped at the same time, the ground shook as if there was an earthquake.
"If you refuse the teachings, there is only death."
The soldiers standing on the palisade began to murmur.
"What should we do..."
"Can we handle those numbers?"
"If even the holy knights couldn't withstand them, how can we handle those devils?"
"Goddess Dre, are you truly present in this land...?"
At that moment, the palisade gate opened and a group of people came out.
"My King!"
Giggs was startled and looked behind the palisade.
"What?! Who opened the gate!"
Looking down at the bottom of the palisade, all the soldiers who had been guarding it were dead from sword wounds.
They had been so distracted by Alexander that they hadn't noticed the commotion below. The person leading the way toward Alexander was walking with a crutch. The man knelt down as soon as he reached Alexander.
Upon seeing the man, Alexander smiled benevolently.
"Oh... A lost sheep has come on its own feet. What is your name?"
"I am Luins. And these are my followers."
When Olivia saw Luins, curses naturally came to her lips.
"That crazy bastard...!"
Luins smiled brightly and bowed repeatedly, trying his best to make a good impression on Alexander.
Alexander truly liked Luins’ behavior.
"Luins. What is it that you wish from me?"
"I wish to become as wise as the king. Please crown me."
"I have not seen such faith until now. I will use you preciously."
Alexander placed his staff on Luins' head. Then Luins screamed.
"Aaaaaaaargh!"
Horns grew on his head and his skin turned purple.
When Luins screamed, the men who had followed him became frightened.
"Do not be afraid, children. Pain always accompanies rebirth."
As time passed, Luins' hair grew fuller, his protruding belly flattened, and firm muscles took shape. When three horns finally settled on Luins' head, the trembling of his body subsided.
Luins rose to his feet.
"This power... This hair..."
"Yes. It is entirely yours."
"My King. Thank you sincerely."
Luins knelt on one knee toward Alexander and bowed his head.
"I will serve the king with my entire life."
"Yes. Wise servant."
"Thank you sincerely..."
Slash!
At that moment, Luins' neck flew in an arc. The blood spurting from Luins' neck stained Alexander's white holy robe.
"What is this...!"
In front of the decapitated Luins stood an executioner with red hair and red eyes.
"Hello?"
Crack!
White lightning attached to Thunder cut through Alexander's nape.
Slash!
Alexander's head flew off cleanly and fell to the ground. Seeing this, Nel screamed.
"Caesaaaaaaar!"
Nel lost his mind and charged toward Caesar.
Nel's speed, which had already far surpassed the speed of sound, reached behind Caesar before one could even blink. Flying like an arrow shot toward Caesar's back, Nel thrust his sword.
"Dieeeeee!"
At that moment, Nel's sword was blocked in mid-air and bounced off. Where the sparks flew stood Gloria holding a greatsword as red as blood.
"You die."
The blood of Kos that had seeped into Gloria's greatsword glowed red and exploded.