Chapter 135
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: It's Not Over Until It's Over. (4)
To keep from being noticed by the unknown enemy—whatever it was, Demon King or not.
We first used Jenny's magic to cast a stealth spell.
"But if we get too close, we might get spotted, so maintaining this distance seems best."
It was sound advice.
"Yeah, I agree. Let's observe from here."
The imperial army must have done the same.
They wouldn't have approached openly for a closer look.
They'd have kept this distance.
But without an advanced mage to cast stealth magic for them, they must have been detected by the enemy.
"...This is strange. Something must have happened, nothing else explains it..."
Mersen's expression darkened as he briefly scanned the Mera Union.
"What's going on?"
I took the telescope he was using and peered at the Mera Union.
But contrary to what he'd called strange, all I saw were ordinary people going about their business.
"What's so weird about..."
I stopped mid-question, about to ask what felt off.
Because I'd noticed the people repeating the same actions.
"...You're right, this is odd."
It felt like watching puppets in a puppet show, confined to scripted movements within a set range.
Goosebumps prickled my arms.
"The chances of survivors being few—or none at all—are high."
Countless people repeating identical motions.
The conclusion was clear: hardly any survivors.
"This must be the anomaly the imperial scouts spotted."
They'd reported it to His Majesty via communication, or so they'd said.
But they hadn't described the report as urgent.
So they'd likely been relaying observations like this...
"And then contact cut off..."
They must have been discovered mid-report and killed.
But the strange part was...
"You said the communication crystal cut out, right?"
Even a skilled mage would struggle to sever a communication crystal's link with magic.
Magic alone, that is.
Disrupting a mana-powered crystal's connection required a massive amount of mana.
"...But demonic energy changes the equation."
We still weren't sure if the enemy beyond was truly the Demon King.
But he'd called himself one.
And if my hypothesis held...
"Demonic energy?"
I explained to Jenny, who tilted her head curiously.
"Inject demonic energy into the mana-powered crystal. Even a small amount could cause a disruption."
"...So the being over there really is the Demon King?"
I couldn't answer definitively.
It was just my guess; nothing was certain.
"We have no choice but to check."
It could be dangerous.
If it really was the Demon King waiting beyond.
Charging in with just us might not be wise.
"For now, report to His Majesty and pull back to observe. That's my advice, Holy Knight."
The others nodded, sharing the sentiment.
"Yeah, let's do th—"
As I started to agree, unwilling to risk us alone...
Ku-gu-gu-gung—
A massive tremor hit.
"Th-the sky..."
The sky began dyeing itself in an ominous hue.
"Wh-what's happening...?! "
Overwhelming demonic energy enveloped us.
"Shield!"
If not for Jenny's shield spell, the density might have corrupted us outright.
"It looks like it's coming from the Mera Union's capital...!"
Mersen pointed toward the Mera Union.
At the tip of his finger swirled an indescribable vortex over the capital.
"...A demonic storm of this magnitude... No doubt about it now."
The worst-case scenario I'd hoped against was unfolding.
The one who'd annihilated the imperial army.
And now wreaking havoc on the Mera Union's capital...
"...Demon King Kraksus."
He'd revived.
"The real Demon King...?"
"What do we do...?"
We all fell into contemplation.
Now that the enemy was confirmed, it was time for tactics.
But...
"...His revival means power leagues beyond the Chairman or Councilors."
We'd struggled against even them.
Figuring out how to handle this was beyond us.
Ku-gu-gu-ga—
The demonic storm raged fiercely once more before calming.
Kraaaaaah—!
But the colossal roar that followed plunged us into despair again.
That beastly bellow...
"He's summoned his Demon King army."
A signal we were entering the worst phase.
"Damn...! This repulsive demonic energy is driving me mad...!"
Mersen shuddered at the demonic aura pressing from all sides.
With his title as Hero of Light.
He loathed evil more than most.
"...Let's retreat for now and think of a plan."
This wasn't the time to wallow in the aura's malice.
Every minute counted in this crisis.
We had to find a way through.
"Contact His Majesty fir—"
"Wait!"
As we moved to link the communication crystal for the report.
A woman's voice rang in our ears.
"Y-yes. It seems Kraksus has indeed revived."
A woman held something resembling a communication crystal—but different—and spoke to someone.
"(...So it came to that after all...)"
"Killing the Chairman and Councilors ended up backfiring."
The voice from the crystal...
"What now, Lord Jeral?"
Belonged to one of the Demon Realm's absolute rulers.
The Weapon Demon King, Jeral.
"(They're the ones who took down even Chairman and Councilor-level foes. Cooperating with them might be our best bet. Find them.)"
"Understood. I'll contact you once I do."
After ending the call with Jeral, she slumped against a tree branch.
"Ah... What a pain..."
Her identity: the witch Rebecca Havok.
The reason she, known for allying with the Mera Union, was contacting another Demon King here was simple.
She'd been a spy from the start.
"But with Kraksus revived... no choice. Gotta move fast, hassle or not."
Rebecca Havok.
She was the countermeasure Jeral had sent to stop Kraksus.
"If only Lord Jeral could come himself. Or if someone could borrow his power... Sigh..."
She sighed, but knew better.
Jeral's standing creed:
'The Demon Realm has its rules, the Middle Realm has its own. They mustn't mix.'
That was the Weapon Demon King's justice.
He despised rule-breakers like Kraksus.
He'd hunted the elusive Kraksus across the Demon Realm to end him.
But the coward, hiding and scheming his way to the Middle Realm, had evaded capture.
"He said crossing over personally breaks the Middle Realm's rules."
Indeed, entering the Middle Realm from the Demon Realm required countless human souls as tribute.
He wanted no part of that.
Nor could he find someone to wield his power easily.
Unlike Kraksus...
Jeral's power had one major hurdle.
'Anyway, find them first.'
Spreading her senses wide, Rebecca finally located Kane's group near the Mera Union.
'What kind of stealth magic is this meticulous...?'
She was impressed; any less focus, and she'd have missed it.
'They haven't noticed us yet.'
Given the recent demonic explosion.
Kraksus must have used summoning for his army.
It demanded total concentration.
"Contact His Majesty fir—"
"Wait!"
Using the crystal here would spike mana amid the demonic energy.
They'd be exposed for sure.
So she'd rushed to stop them.
Thankfully, before the link formed.
"Who are you...?!"
Jenny, maintaining the stealth, shouted in alarm.
Few could pierce her spell.
It was bewildering for her.
"Whoa, easy. I'm on your side."
But Rebecca reeked of thick demonic energy.
"...You wield demonic power."
Mersen drew his holy sword on her.
"Oh, come on. I said I'm with you guys."
But Rebecca subdued him effortlessly.
Demonic aura present, yet barely fazed by the holy sword—it was uncanny.
"You... half-demon...?"
"Sir Mersen! Hold on...!"
Kane stopped Mersen, eyes narrowing for combat.
"Let's at least hear her out...!"
"Yeah, listen before swinging."
Rebecca frowned, siding with Kane.