Chapter 168
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 172
Chapter Title: Date with the Demon King (2)
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Spacetime Demon King Rubias.
And the ten high demons she had brought with her.
It wasn't an exaggeration to call this the worst possible situation.
"...Hoo."
I'd never once faced a scenario like this in the game.
In boss fights, we always had the numbers advantage.
For a guy who was practically a final boss to show up with high demons in tow—didn't she feel even a little ashamed?
"Damn bitch."
I grumbled like that, but honestly, ever since the game became reality, I hadn't completely ruled out variables like this.
I'd just excluded them because there really wouldn't be any answers if they happened.
A Demon King who was already overwhelmingly powerful showing up with an army—what could anyone even prepare for that?
No, even if you did prepare, could you actually stop it?
By that point, it would be beyond my hands anyway.
There were clear limits to what I could do alone, so the entire Empire would have to mobilize.
...But now that the situation was actually here right in front of me, it felt even more hopeless than I'd imagined.
"Sigh... Hooo..."
I took deep breaths to suppress my emotions and first tried to gauge the enemy's forces.
Their side: one Demon King and ten high demons.
No need to explain the Demon King, and the high demons were undoubtedly all master-level monsters or equivalent.
None of the high demons were ones I recognized.
Which meant I'd have to clash with them blind, without any intel.
"What a fucking joke..."
I swallowed the curse that nearly slipped out.
In comparison, our side had nine master-level fighters, including me and Charhela.
Plus Saintess Cecilia, who had an absolute advantage against demons due to compatibility; Third Imperial Princess Arpe, who could forcibly awaken and boost everyone with various buffs; and mage Starnassila Weller, bearer of a legendary relic.
"...Hm?"
Objectively speaking, this might actually be doable?
Of course, facing the Demon King plus her entourage would be far tougher than just her alone, but the divine blessings from the Demon Gods that protected demon power in the divine realm weren't something they could spam.
If they could, they would've conquered the world ages ago by blessing three Demon Kings and a horde of high demons.
In other words, they probably couldn't unleash their full power here.
"Hee hee. It's been so long, Kang Han-gil. Have you been well?"
As I mulled that over, Rubias had approached unnoticed, flashing a bright smile and elegantly waving her hand.
She was dressed to the nines, looking beautiful, seductive, and sensual.
Her thin, form-fitting knit top accentuated her ample chest and hip lines, with her back fully exposed down to her tailbone.
Her bottoms were unbalanced jeans: one leg cut high enough to show skin below her hip, the other riddled with vintage-style holes that let her plump thigh flesh bulge out.
No underwear lines visible, so she was probably wearing nothing underneath.
"......"
The outfit screamed streetwalker overall... but what bugged me more was the modern style itself.
"...Doesn't feel like it's been that long. We've talked plenty, whenever you felt like it."
"We didn't talk that often! You heartless man! Besides, occasions like this are all about formality and mood!"
"Bullshit. Anyone hearing you would think we have some special relationship. We don't, do we?"
"You're too much! Wasn't it you who spoke of the bond we shared through death—the sticky, profound connection!?"
"I already told you that was all lies."
"If I don't believe it, it isn't a lie! I won't believe it! No! Even if I do—starting now, we'll share that bond, and it'll be settled!"
"...Crazy bitch."
At my curse, the high demons behind her erupted with explosive auras.
But Rubias just giggled and waved them down calmly.
"Mm. That blunt tongue of yours hasn't changed a bit."
"...What the hell is with that outfit."
"Oh, this? What do you think? Does it suit me? I peeked into your memories and copied it."
"...What?"
Her unexpected words left me stunned.
"Hm? Why the shock?"
"No... You could do that? You've been peeking into my memories all this time?"
"I wish I could say yes... but sadly, no."
"Explain."
She stared at my cold, curt response for a moment before drawing a meaningful smile.
"Hmm~? Nothing much to explain. Recently, didn't you reject divinity? In that instant when it elevated your rank and soul, I just slipped in for a quick look."
"...How much did you see?"
"Hee hee. That panicked reaction—looks like there's something you didn't want me to see?"
"Answer."
"Hmmm..."
She tapped her lip teasingly, drawing it out with a mischievous expression, then grinned.
"But tell me, Kang Han-gil. Even if I did see those memories, would anything change?"
"What do you mean."
"For example, would it make you stop wanting to kill me?"
"......"
Fair point.
No matter what, she was someone I had to kill. The outcome wouldn't change.
"Hooo..."
"There, you seem calmer now. Oh, and as for your question—regrettably, I didn't catch that many memories. Just fragments of the world you lived in."
"...Origin World. Do you know it?"
"Hmm? Origin World... No idea. First time hearing it."
"I see."
Could be a lie, but if she knew about 'Origin World,' there'd be no reason to hide it.
Even I'd be curious and ask all sorts of questions.
I let out an unconscious sigh of relief, and her beast-like vertical slit pupils curved softly.
"Anyway, Kang Han-gil. Our long-awaited date is finally here. I was so excited for this moment, I couldn't even sleep."
"You don't sleep anyway."
"Hah... Haha! You're right! Ahh! You! How do you make my heart race like this!? How do you know me so well!? My sole confidant! Eternal companion! Fated lover! This is too delightful! My brain feels like fireworks are exploding from sheer joy! You! You'll take responsibility, right!? No! I'll make you!"
"Haa... Crazy bitch."
I plugged one ear against her piercing high-pitched voice and focused on the Absolute Ring Set.
Even though I'd gotten pretty strong, I still relied on this first.
"My, it's too early to start fighting, Kang Han-gil."
"I decide that, not you."
"Are you sure? If we clash forces now, someone will die. Why not talk a bit more instead? We could discuss our future plans."
"......"
I bared my teeth in a fierce grin and glared at her.
"You think anyone here will die to a puny Demon King?"
"Hahaha! Such arrogance! Pathetic bravado! But that's my friend for you!"
"Shut up."
I growled through gritted teeth, activated the Absolute Taunt Ring, and sent a telepathic command to the party.
-Ignore the Demon King and target the high demons first! Arpe, hold off on forced awakening and just do buffs! Cecilia, set up barriers around Vivian, Pashtra, and Sister Weller! Sister Weller, support the masters and rain magic on the high demons!
Rubias spread her arms wide, her smile turning viciously eerie.
"This sensation of my body moving on its own—it's been ages! Good! My friend! My one true rival! It's a bit early, but try killing me!"
"......"
Everyone else who'd fallen for this lost their minds and attacked blindly, but how was that mouth of hers still running fine?
Kwooooah!
In that instant, time and space literally twisted and warped.
Sand dust below my vision rose sluggishly like an amorphous creature, while clouds above raced unnaturally, scattering and merging repeatedly.
Ching-clang—!!
Then, like shattering glass, space fractured into countless shards, forming ominous noise.
"Come at me, friend! Make me feel alive!"
Her attack, which pulverized time and space wholesale, poured solely toward killing me.
But my body was already wrapped in the violet glow of the Absolute Evasion Ring.
"...Unbelievable."
Obviously, the target of my Absolute Taunt Ring wasn't just the Demon King.
I'd taunted the other ten high demons from afar too, and they'd all succumbed, losing reason and charging.
Magic, projectiles, curses and elemental strikes via Soul Gears, melee...
But I hadn't expected all of them to get caught in the Demon King's attack range and vanish.
"Gaaahhh!?"
"D-Demon King...!"
Two high demons attempting melee evaporated on the spot, space-time twisting them out of existence without a trace.
"She's truly insane."
I used the Absolute Counter Ring to reflect the attack and watched her reaction.
"Hahaha! Come onnn!!"
She seemed oblivious to wiping out two of her own high demons, laughing heartily as she met the doubled attack head-on.
A chilling, repulsive roar clawed across the world.
If seen from space, it'd look like a massive gash on the planet.
Obviously, flesh buried in such a gash couldn't stay intact.
"Kuhak!?"
Shattered, torn, crushed, scattered, annihilated.
A horrific barrage that could've erased her down to the cellular level.
"Hee hee... Ahaha! Thrilling! I feel alive! Ahh! Such sweet, agonizing pain!"
Despite it all, Rubias regenerated her body fully and laughed.
The polar opposite of the two high demons, now faceless even in memory.
Well, that's what made her the Demon King.
"Hooo..."
I activated my ritual tattoos to prepare for the fight ahead, and immense heat and vitality surged through my body.
No time to hold back—I was about to manifest my authority too when our eyes met.
"Hee hee... Kang Han-gil. Planning to use that beastly authority?"
"You...?"
The moment I saw her gentle smile, instinct made me focus on the Absolute Ring Set again and activate it.
"...Oh dear, caught me."
Annoyance flickered across her face as she was forced to prepare another attack.
"What is this? You don't want to fight?"
The Absolute Ring Set reactivating meant she harbored no hostility, so I tilted my head in confusion.
Of course, I still did what I had to.
The doubled attack from Absolute Evasion and Counter Rings returned, demolishing her body once more at the cellular level before it regenerated.
"...You're still targeted. What the hell are you thinking?"
I focused on the Absolute Ring Set again.
Meeting my gaze, she waved her hand with a soothing, affectionate look—like placating a child—yet tinged with desperation.
"My dear. Fighting is fine, but couldn't we do something a bit more date-like? If you're worried about your women getting jealous, don't be. They seem engrossed in their own battles right now."
Where she pointed, the party was locked in fierce combat with the high demons.
Eight against eight now... thanks to those two idiots dying pointlessly, numbers weren't an issue, but demons had the edge in prolonged fights.
"...Hmph. Rubias. You talked about bonding through death and all that, but when it comes to actually killing me, you can't stomach it?"
"Honestly, yes. No matter how I think about it, I can't kill you. So today, let's just talk. Like ordinary human lovers on a date. Then I'll send the high demons back."
"Who said you decide?"
"Hm?"
I grinned and activated the Absolute Ring Set; red energy seeped into Rubias.
"Seems you take that 'bond through death' talk too lightly. Or do you just refuse to believe a mere human like me killed you over and over?"
The Absolute Taunt Ring triggered; the Demon King prepared a calamitous attack once more.
"W-Wait! Kang Han-gil! Please! This is a plea from a Demon King! Can't you just... delay the fighting a little? Just a bit!?"
I froze.
Tears welling in her eyes, she begged desperately and earnestly.
"You think cheap emotional appeals will work on me?"
It was so absurd I could only laugh.
"...If you think I won't kill you, you're sorely mistaken. I'd love it if you just died."
I evaded with Absolute Evasion, reflected with Absolute Counter, and grinned.
"I'll kill you, Rubias."
Her body was wrecked again—utterly, thoroughly destroyed.