Chapter 343: translated
I Killed the Demon King. It was a Mistake.
Chapter 343
Bassago walked slowly.
Each time Bassago's blackened, rotting feet touched the ground, they left a terrible mark.
"It's hard for me to imagine? Why is that?"
"Because you can never become king."
"Why not?"
"Isn't Denver, the king of Niflheim, above you? Even if you're called king, you won't be a true king. Denver will always be above you."
Marbas spat out his confusion.
"D-don't say such nonsense! Serving Lord Denver brings infinite joy!"
"You were born a slave, it seems."
"W-what?!"
Caesar leaned on his axe like a staff and laughed leisurely.
"I have no desire to belittle your joy and benefits. If you're happy living as a slave, then live as a slave."
"I'm not a slave! I'm the king's servant!"
"There's a big difference between a slave and a servant. A servant thinks and speaks, but a slave follows without thinking. What were you thinking when you stood here?"
"I came because His Majesty ordered me to kill you!"
"If he told you not to kill, would you not kill?"
"T-that's right?"
"That's why you're a slave. Marbas."
The veins covering Bassago's fingers and the back of his hand trembled greatly. Caesar felt that Bassago was greatly disturbed by his words.
"To be honest, I don't understand what that guy Denver is thinking."
"Ha! Do you think a mere human can understand the thoughts of the great Lord Denver?"
"Think about it. You say you want to create a world for devils? Isn't that just saying you want to create a world where devils aren't discriminated against?"
"That's right!"
"Then let's say you killed all humans and all demon races. When a world with only devils remains, what happens then?"
"What happens? It becomes paradise!"
"A world without discrimination? You guys discriminate based on the number of horns and divide ranks accordingly. Then, you'll discriminate based on horn count. So then, instead of discrimination by race, it will be a world where people are discriminated against by the number of horns?"
"Paradise is not a world where such discrimination exists!"
"This is why I don't talk with idiots. They think whoever shouts louder wins."
Caesar glanced at Bassago and said:
"Do you think the same as this idiot? Bassago?"
Bassago was standing 4 meters away from Caesar. His pupils reflected a small ecstasy.
"Then do you think this discriminatory world is right?"
"The reason knights and wizards are praised is because not everyone can become one. It's only possible if you have the talent to handle magic. From that perspective, devils, knights, and wizards aren't much different."
"Then why are devils discriminated against while knights and wizards are praised?"
"Knights and wizards benefit ordinary people who can't handle magic, but you don't."
Caesar went deep into Bassago's heart.
"You killed and tormented ordinary people. But knights and wizards have used their power to protect them. That's why we are praised and you are cursed. You should understand that."
"Then do you think a Main who benefits humans deserves praise?"
"If such a devil exists..."
Caesar took one big step forward and used psychometry.
"They would deserve to be king."
Bassago's heart was much more passionate than what appeared on the surface.
-I misunderstood Caesar.
-This guy's thinking is broader and more open than I thought.
Bassago is the devil among those belonging to Niflheim who is the most reasonable to talk to.
Unlike Denver, who has the extreme ideology that the seed of humans should be dried up, he is a devil supremacist who believes that devils are superior and should reign over humans. Because he is relatively moderate, he communicates well, and if you sympathize with him appropriately, he shows a lot of favor.
Well, it's understandable that he likes it when someone agrees with his thoughts, since he's treated as an oddball by Niflheim and can't get support from humans.
Bassago didn't hide his emotions.
"I respect Lord Denver. Lord Denver became king himself to elevate us Main, who are objects of hatred by humans, to objects of respect. He declared war on the Eileen Empire, which thinks humans are the highest beings, and the believers who worship a vain god. I did not hesitate to become his servant, moved by Lord Denver's courage."
Marbas nodded.
"R-right! M-me too...!"
Ding!
Marbas' expression turned to confusion.
"A-attacking in the middle of speech is not... Huh? Lord Bassago?! H-how are you here?!"
Ignoring Marbas, Bassago began to continue his emotional speech.
"He made devils reborn with the new name Main, and I enjoyed calling myself Main. I never expected such great joy to come during my lifetime. But..."
Bassago's expression began to darken rapidly.
"His Majesty has lost his original intention. He forgot the fact that only those chosen by magic can become Main."
Bassago's fists trembled, and the surroundings began to rot.
Trees withered, insects lost their sounds, birds fell while flying, and fish in the stream began to die belly-up.
Whitey, being a spirit animal, immediately flew away as soon as it detected danger.
"Building nests to forcibly turn humans into devils, giving blessings to Main who aren't ready to increase their horns...!"
The dead things rotted and crumbled, polluting and tangling the surroundings.
The rotten stench stabbing at his nose made Marbas unable to endure and he retched.
"You're saying I'm a Main on the same level as those lowly, worthless beings? How can mass-produced cups from a factory be the same as pottery crafted with all a master's heart and soul? Just because blood flows and horns exist doesn't mean we're the same Main! I am a being beyond that!"
Bassago burst out with complaints he had been hiding all this time.
"I advised the King numerous times. Only the chosen ones should become Main, and we should stand above inadequate humans to rule and guide them. But the King didn't even listen to my advice with the back of his ear."
Bassago looked at Marbas and said.
"A King is one who leads his people down the right path. A shepherd, in other words. But if the King doesn't guide toward the right path and instead leads to a strange path, can that person be called a King? Marbas?"
"Uh, uhh? That's..."
"I'm asking if there's any reason to follow King Denver!"
Marbas was flustered and couldn't continue speaking.
"Y-Your Majesty's orders must be followed... Uh..."
"You stupid fool!"
Bassago stretched his hand toward Marbas.
"Ugh! Aaaaaaaaaa!"
Marbas' body began to rot. Black blood flowed from his eyes and his clock of gangrene turned black with decay.
"Ah, it hurts! It hurts! S-stop!"
"Sycophants like you are the problem. A loyal subject should speak words the King doesn't want to hear! Those who just blindly follow without any thought darken and confuse the King's eyes! Such people are useless to the King!"
Bassago is a devil who plays a very important role in the devil overflow scenario.
This is because Bassago is the leader of devils who hold hostility toward Denver. If one shows some agreement with Bassago's opinions and offers support, Bassago gathers surrounding devils and commits treason against Denver.
The enemy of my enemy is my ally. Caesar plans to initiate Niflheim's division scenario through today.
Marbas' body turned into a black porridge and melted away.
Bassago stroked his horns.
"Caesar, I don't acknowledge your values. Because you call me evil that must die and disparage me as a devil. But I also acknowledge that you are an honorable person who knows what it means to be chosen by Magic. So I will make a proposal to you, Caesar."
Bassago extended his hand to Caesar.
"Let's dismantle all human kingdoms and establish a country for Main and demon races."
Caesar's eyebrow twitched.
This isn't the response from Bassago that Caesar wanted.
Originally, he should only ask for help to overthrow Denver. But now he's talking about establishing a country together?
What does this mean?
"What did you say?"
"You broke the Holy Grail, lured out the Saint to weaken the Royder Order, prevented the birth of a new king and hero blessed by the Baptism Sword among humans, and enticed the Hero to join hands with the Demon King. Wasn't all that for the restoration of the demon realm?"
Caesar is a doppelganger.
And this guy knows Caesar is a doppelganger because of Elijah's revelation.
'So my choice has changed because of my origin.'
"You are an unparalleled loyal subject and wise minister to the Demon King. If I had a minister like you, this land would have already welcomed an era that follows the natural order."
"A world that follows the natural order?"
"I'm talking about a world ruled by those born with Magic's blessing. That is, a world of demon races and Main."
Bassago began to straighten his tangled horns.
"So the new King of Niflheim, Bassago, officially requests to the Demon King."
Caesar got goosebumps reading the guy's thoughts before he spoke.
"Let's form a marriage alliance."
Caesar's eyebrow twitched. What the hell is this bastard saying now?
"...What?"
"I am not a closed-minded person. Although you may not be a Main like me, aren't we races with the same horns? Let's ally and marry to join forces. Then we can unify this continent and establish a true peaceful empire."
I understand his thinking. Since he currently has no supporting forces, he plans to add strength with the demon races, kill Denver, and take the throne of Niflheim.
"Ah, so you want a political marriage with Agatha, is that what you're saying?"
"That's right. It wouldn't be a losing decision for the Demon King either. It's not easy to find a wise husband like me."
Snap!
Something felt like it broke in Caesar's mind.
Caesar's muscles and heart began to heat up.
"Alright. I understand."
Bassago's expression brightened.
"As expected, a person who understands..."
"Yes. I understand that you want to die."
Caesar's Lefty spewed fire.
Crack!
Bassago's body was cut diagonally, and at the same time, sparks flew from the cross-section.
"What...?"
"You fucking bastard, do you really want to die? What the hell are you babbling about in front of me?"
Bassago's body decayed and melted away in an instant. Following that, Bassago emerged from a rotten tree.
Bassago's whole body trembled with the burning pain that crossed his chest, stomach, and intestines.
"W-What are you doing?"
"Agatha is mine."
"...What?"
"Agata is mine, you fucking bastard!"
Caesar swung Lefty toward Bassago again.
Bassago stretched out his hand. Then the blood vessels attached to Bassago's bone fingers intertwined with each other and formed a long rod. It was a scepter symbolizing the king. Bassago blocked Caesar's Lefty.
The Arch's holy flame flowing from Lefty engulfed Bassago.
"Aaaaaaaaaa!"
Bassago writhed in pain as the Arch's holy flame struck his face.
Bassago burned in an instant and turned to ash. But Caesar knew very well that Bassago wouldn't die so easily.
Bassago staggered out from a rotten riverbank.
"I see what vain dream you're dreaming."
Bassago's empty eyes burned purple.
"A subject should live like a subject, how dare you admire the king. You're overstepping your bounds."
Bassago swirled his scepter. The stagnant, rotten river water gathered toward Bassago.
"You die by my hand because of your vain dream."
Ding!
At that moment, with a clear sound, the decayed and rotten Marbas came back to life. Bassago looked at Marbas as if annoyed.
"Truly like a cockroach, aren't you."
Bassago raised his scepter toward Marbas.
"Die, sycophant. Decay and become fertilizer for the newly born kingdom."
Skeletons appeared around Marbas and seized him. And they slowly dragged Marbas into a black, foul-smelling swamp.
"Finally you reveal your ambition. Bassago."
Marbas didn't stutter. His expression wasn't fearful, nor was his voice whimpering.
"What...?"
When Marbas' hour hand stopped, the skeletons' movements halted. Marbas walked out of the squelching swamp of decay on his own.
"Did I appear lacking because I pretended to be stupid and naive? Did you think I couldn't read your desires?"
Bassago swirled his scepter.
The river of decay engulfed Marbas, but when the minute hand stopped, the river halted.
"Your desire to dominate is truly ugly. Do you find pleasure in standing above others? His Majesty took up the sword with tears, to remove the suffering in this world where only pain exists."
Marbas pulled out the ash hand and the return hand from his face. The ash hand and return hand grew into sharp skewers.
"To betray His Majesty's benevolent will and try to unfold your base desires. You don't deserve to enter His Majesty's heaven."
"Have you been deceiving everyone until now? Marbas?"
"Yes."
Marbas took his stance.
"I'll show you how sharp the dagger of one who has given himself up for the king can be."
Bassago snorted and looked at Marbas.
No matter how skilled Marbas might be, he's a Main with only 5 horns.
Meanwhile, Bassago is a Main with as many as 7 horns. The number of horns is related to magic dominance. Although his ability to turn back time is somewhat tricky, he ultimately uses the magic contained in his surroundings and his own body.
The more horns, the wider range of magic one can control, and the more magic one can retain in their body.
If fighting Marbas, Bassago never doubted that he would win. The problem is Caesar. If Caesar intervenes while fighting Marbas, it becomes very troublesome.
Especially that white flame Caesar is using. It's not only much more painful than the oil of holy flame, but it also has a significant effect when resurrecting. If things go wrong, he might really die. Should he try to persuade Caesar?
'...I must be out of my mind.'
Judging by the white flames flowing from Caesar's Lefty and the lightning sparking from Thunder, it doesn't seem like words will get through.
At that moment, a man suddenly appeared. Emerald hair reflecting the pale moonlight. And a beautiful young man with snow-white skin and purple eyes. He appeared like a ghost and stood between the three.
Marbas immediately knelt down.
"I greet Your Majesty Denver."
Caesar's heated head cooled in an instant. How is this bastard here? Denver looked at Caesar.
"What a pity."
Denver stretched his hand toward Caesar. Nine horns grew on his head, forming a crown.
"It's such a pity that I cannot kill you right now."
Caesar instinctively drew his Lefty.
Denver is not an enemy Caesar had anticipated. What abilities does Denver have at this point?
Andromalius' 'Flaying'?
Eligos' 'Grudge'?
Or... A purple fan sprang from Denver's hand.
Caesar's pupils dilated as soon as he saw the fan. That's the 'Fan of Rejection'.
Whoosh!
As Denver swung the fan, Caesar's lefty swung simultaneously.
As Caesar's arch of holy flame-infused sharp wind flew toward Denver, the powerful repulsive force emitted from Denver's fan pushed Caesar back.