Chapter 277
Chapter 277
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 277
Chapter Title: Han Shin Appears
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Demons were profoundly narcissistic by nature.
The stronger the demon, the more obsessively they cherished themselves.
If ordinary demons were like that, what about demon kings, demon gods, or great lords?
'And yet, someone tampered with its own body.'
Park Chan-woo was certain.
This place where he stood was none other than the interior of the Demon King of Karmic Fire's flesh.
And only a limited few could decorate it like the Abyss using their own body.
That meant it was either an entity of immense scale or someone who had mastered 'magic' to that degree.
'The Demon King of Karmic Fire is a mage.'
The bastard wielded magic at a level where even the mightiest dragonkin couldn't hold a candle to it.
Frankly, even Park Chan-woo had to admit it was jaw-dropping.
If everything here was fabricated and conjured through magic...
Then the intricacy of the forcibly inscribed 'dual contract' was beyond words.
Park Chan-woo asked,
"Do you know what that slime was that melted your outer hide?"
Crucio replied,
"The Elixir of Evolution! Upon reaching the third stage, it's the divine grace that pours from the heavens."
They revered the demon king's gastric juices as divine grace.
'Brainwashed.'
It wasn't some deliberate hypnosis by another.
It had been crafted so they'd believe it naturally.
As the saying goes, a perfect lie is indistinguishable from perfect truth.
This was why the Demon King of Karmic Fire was so terrifying.
The avatars surely knew they'd been bound by a 'dual contract,' yet it blinded them with the belief that it was 'divine grace.'
No creator force-fed a dual contract with good intentions.
And the avatars knew that better than anyone.
'If everyone believes it, the lie becomes truth. Miracles are born.'
Far more potent than any placebo effect.
This world was upheld by the 'faith' of the half-demons.
Their mana and souls were the pillars bearing it aloft.
Laced with the unshakeable belief that devouring half-demons granted true evolution.
The Demon King of Karmic Fire had deliberately wrought a miracle indistinguishable from a curse.
To shatter it, he had to make them realize their faith was futile.
'Half-demon evolution hardly counts as real evolution.'
They could wield a creator's power?
Sure, they could.
The dual contract—the Demon King of Karmic Fire's covertly inscribed binding pact—would ensnare the true contractor bound to the avatar.
And the half-demons' fervent, unquestioning faith would make it possible without a doubt.
But that path led straight to becoming the Demon King of Karmic Fire's puppet.
So, its true aim was...
'To clear the fourth night without lifting a finger.'
Of course, that wasn't its sole objective.
Perhaps it sought to forcibly enlist countless creators into devotion.
Just as the Moon Lord Aheta had devoted himself.
Even if not, the contracted half-demons would impose coercive influence regardless.
He nodded.
Destroying this false world was the top priority.
But the time granted to him was just one day.
Park Chan-woo gripped Susan's fallen sword.
This was neither Beta's nor Susan's blade—it belonged to the 'Demon King of Karmic Fire.'
That's why it could be transferred, and why it didn't vanish upon Susan's death.
The dual contract had bypassed the transfer restriction.
In other words...
'Beta. Han Shin knows this world is a sham.'
Beta.
Han Shin had claimed to bestow the sword.
Upon reaching the third stage, all formed a 'dual contract' with the Demon King of Karmic Fire, granting a system where they could wield the demon king's weapon as their own.
Yet if Han Shin—not the demon king—had handed it over personally, it meant the two were in communication.
'Han Shin is the crack's origin.'
Someone aware of the falsehood existed.
Just one, but one was enough to herald the fracture.
To collapse this world and jolt the demon king.
The issue was getting Han Shin to act directly.
Nothing was surer than letting the crack spread and topple the walls on its own.
"Where's 'Beta'?"
"Preparing for tomorrow's 'Final War,' I suppose."
"Don't know the location?"
"Well, I hear they relocate residences in real-time."
The surest way to drag out the hidden Han Shin.
Make it aware an archmage was here.
It must have taken note of Park Chan-woo, who'd thwarted it time and again.
'Using Heavenly Punishment would tip it off.'
But he couldn't just spam it.
With Non-Existence unbound, the Demon King of Karmic Fire might notice.
Though it was probably swamped inspecting the 'fourth night' right now.
After a moment's thought, he turned to Crucio.
"...Something you want to say?"
Crucio spoke up as Park Chan-woo stared plainly at him.
Park Chan-woo nodded.
"Crucio. A gift."
"Susan's sword?"
"Too hard to handle?"
"No... not that. But it's your trophy."
"A congratulatory gift for hitting third stage."
"Ah...!"
Thrilled, it seemed.
But the real reason he'd handed over the sword was different.
"I'll enchant it with magic. Now go wild on your own."
"E-Enchant magic onto the sword?"
"Yeah. Don't move."
Crucio tilted its head at the unfamiliar notion.
But it stayed stock-still like stone.
Some trust had built up, apparently.
Park Chan-woo slowly intoned the spell.
"Whirl and linger, Heavenly Punishment."
Kraaaaaang!
Kurururung!
With a beastly roar, Heavenly Punishment was enchanted onto the sword.
Crucio, who had watched the entire process from start to finish, had eyes wide as saucers.
"W-What is this? Your talent? But how... magic and sword at the same time...?"
Even at a glance, the extraordinary magic had taken root in the blade.
Lightning crackled around the entire sword like it was alive.
It had boosted the sword's performance several times over.
Any ordinary half-demon would turn to ash just from touching it.
But magic and swords were incompatible.
Half-demons were avatars, and before that, members of a species reliant on the system—they knew better than anyone how nonsensical this was.
Brrrr!
"No way... not third stage, but...?"
"A gift."
"...Why keep giving me gifts?"
"Think of it as reward for your luck in finding me."
"......"
Tears of emotion welled in Crucio's eyes.
This was the first time someone had showered it with unconditional gifts.
Especially from what seemed a half-demon beyond fourth stage.
"Tell me if you need anything. I'll make it happen, even at the cost of my life."
Words he shouldn't utter under normal circumstances.
He was devoted to the Alpha Queen.
But reaching third stage had diluted her influence.
He'd regained some free will.
"Go nuts."
Park Chan-woo shrugged.
Whether to be grateful or not was anyone's guess.
With Heavenly Punishment's racket, enemies would swarm soon.
If Crucio swung that sword and kept fighting, word was bound to reach Han Shin.
Park Chan-woo opted to bait Han Shin using Crucio as his tank.
In short, a meat shield.
"Ah, yeah, that's the plan."
"I'll watch from afar."
"Ooh! I'll show you my power!"
Crucio thumped its chest confidently.
"Beta! We've detected a new third-stage half-demon in Alpha's camp!"
A half-demon burst urgently into Han Shin's domain.
Han Shin replied in a stern voice,
"...I said no one enters."
In this camp, his word was absolute.
Everything moved solely for the pure Beta, Han Shin.
They knew full well disobeying meant death—unless it was dire.
"B-But it's an insanely powerful half-demon... We've already lost five of our third-stagers."
"The one who killed Susan?"
"No, a different one. Wielding Susan's sword and commanding lightning's power."
"Hm."
Han Shin stroked his chin.
Susan was among the elite half-demons.
Yet this one slew her and claimed her sword.
And a different bastard, no less.
"A magic swordsman?"
He chuckled inwardly.
No dumber choice than magic swordsman.
Splitting class levels separately was sheer idiocy.
"N-Not sure. But... the lightning power was overwhelming."
"Lightning power? What lightning magic exactly?"
"Heavenly... Punishment, it called it."
"......Heavenly Punishment?"
Heavenly Punishment.
Wasn't that the most basic lightning spell?
The shock came from what followed.
"It sealed Heavenly Punishment into the sword. Looked just like an enchantment."
"......"
Heavenly Punishment... enchanted?
A name flashed in his mind.
But he shook his head.
No way that bastard was here.
The one who'd repeatedly sabotaged and thwarted him.
'Archmage.'
He'd never seen the archmage in person.
But he'd witnessed traces of its magic several times.
Most iconic was Heavenly Punishment.
The archmage wielded Heavenly Punishment with absurd power.
'The archmage might be an avatar.'
Stronger than others? Could be an avatar.
The archmage was extreme in that regard.
Likely an avatar of a high-ranking creator.
Drawn here like the rest.
Han Shin pondered.
'What to do.'
The Final War loomed.
Alpha was no pushover.
Victory over her and devouring her core would free Han Shin.
He could lead the fourth night and return to Earth.
However...
"Guide me to it."
The archmage—who'd toyed with him endlessly—had to die.
The moment he spotted it, Han Shin tilted his head.
Chzzzt—Chijijik!
A sword infused with intense Heavenly Punishment.
Wielded by an ivory-tribe half-demon.
Clearly third-stage, retaining its original species form.
The Heavenly Punishment's might was formidable.
But.
"Beta! I'll slay you and restore order!"
Crucio bellowed.
Han Shin frowned.
'This clown's the archmage?'