Chapter 187
Chapter 187
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Birth of the Demon King(?)
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"Unbelievable..."
The pilgrim Chender let out a sigh of pure admiration.
It was his reaction to the situation that had been completely resolved with the death of High Priest Dedop.
The White Shadow Cult.
The true nature of that group, which served demons and pursued all things profane, had been thoroughly shrouded in secrecy.
Even so, Chender was convinced they were High Priests of the White Shadow Cult.
Demon worshippers with that level of power were exceedingly rare.
"For their schemes to be thwarted so easily..."
High Priests of the White Shadow Cult rarely ever combined their powers.
And in those exceedingly rare instances, they usually brought about catastrophes too horrific to even speak of.
For example, there had been a case where the alliance of just two High Priests had pushed an entire city to the brink of annihilation.
Thanks to the heroes' exploits and the friction they caused with the High Priests, the city had narrowly escaped total destruction—
But even then, it had suffered irreparable damage and fallen into decline.
The situation in Bondales up until moments ago had been no different.
Yet to end like this.
Chender still couldn't figure out why he was here.
Or rather, how he had gotten here.
Finding a specific target hidden in some corner of a vast city was never an easy task.
Simply holing up in a remote location required vast amounts of time and manpower to uncover.
And if that specific target was a high-ranking member of a demon-worshipping cult?
Chender recalled the devices protecting the High Priests' secret lair.
The complex alleyways leading to the secret location were guarded by cunning barriers—
And those barriers were watched over by lesser demons.
At the very end awaited a labyrinthine maze crafted through intricate astrology.
Chender pondered.
If they had used conventional methods—
In other words, ordinary manpower and abilities to track down the High Priests, how long would it have taken?
Probably not measured in days, but in weeks or months.
More than enough time for Bondales to be completely swallowed by chaos.
Yet.
The pursuit led by him had brought them here in the blink of an eye.
'This is why...'
Chender came to understand the High Priests' perspective.
He let out a chuckle as he muttered.
"I thought them fools."
"Those two High Priests?"
Palrag chimed in, and the conversation continued naturally.
"Yes. With that much power—and as demon worshippers, no less—they must have been masters at deceiving others. Yet to dance in the palm of that young man's hand, sparking infighting and driving each other to mutual destruction. A pathetic end befitting demon worshippers. That's what I thought at first."
"And now?"
"...Looking back, I think even I would have fallen for it in their position. Who would imagine that those ironclad defenses could be breached head-on in such a short time?"
Chender's gaze, complex and nuanced, turned toward Rishir.
"To be frank, there's a vast difference between your methods and the ones I pursue. Even in this situation, I still question your approach—making me the epitome of stubbornness."
Chender the pilgrim wandered the continent with his holy power, rooting out evil and aiding the weak.
From his perspective, one who pursued honor, Rishir's plan was utterly unacceptable.
No matter the justification of it being for the plan, to impersonate demon worshippers and use that deception to sow discord among the enemy...
If a subordinate had proposed such a thing, Chender would have nearly had a fit.
"However."
He took a deep breath.
Chender steadied himself before looking at Rishir again.
"I must acknowledge what deserves acknowledgment. My respects. The fact that none among us were injured is entirely thanks to your plan."
"A plan is only as good as its execution, isn't it? I, too, offer my thanks to everyone present here."
"Hm...!"
Chender's eyes gleamed.
He fell into brief contemplation.
Should he be surprised that someone so young possessed such ability?
Or that, despite his youth and ability, he displayed a humility that set him apart from other nobles his age?
Chender's attitude toward Rishir shifted markedly.
He continued the conversation in a far friendlier tone.
"By the way, when did you first notice their movements?"
"Pardon?"
"No need for modesty. That cunning and exquisite scheme! How could anyone come up with it on the spot? Surely, you had long since caught wind of their plans and activities. Even their shallow relationships! Yes. They were dancing in your palm from the very start. You must have been waiting for this exact moment—the instant their plan faltered and cracks formed in their flimsy trust!"
The image was still vividly etched in Chender's mind.
Rishir.
The way he had seamlessly impersonated a fellow demon worshipper, as if he had been waiting for it.
How much rehearsal and preparation must one do to perform such natural acting on instinct?
"Ah, that? Actually, it was a plan I came up with on the spot."
"...On the spot?"
That plan.
That acting, improvised on the spot?
And with that improvisation, he had toyed with the High Priests of the White Shadow Cult?
At that moment, a sudden thought flashed through Chender's mind.
What if.
What if this man had walked the wrong path?
"Thank goodness you're on the right path..."
"?"
Rishir could only tilt his head at Chender's sudden deep sigh of relief.
After finishing up at the High Priests' stronghold, Rishir's group returned to their base.
"Lady Halona! You're conscious!"
"...Yes. Thanks to you."
Those awakened from their nightmares welcomed Rishir's group.
Rishir began checking on their conditions, starting with Halona.
At that moment.
Rishir's expression grew serious.
Drei's complexion wasn't great.
"Sir Drei? Is something wrong?"
"...No. It's just... I feel like I'm the only one who came out at a loss—I'm feeling quite aggrieved right now."
"Pardon? At a loss?"
"I wonder if I woke up from the nightmare too early?"
"?"
"I heard from Halona. Apparently, you saved people inside their dreams?"
"Ah, yes... Well... It sort of happened that way... But what's the problem...?"
"I didn't get to see it."
"Pardon?"
"You vanquishing demons in the dream... And the demons panicking when they met you...!"
Me alone!
Drei shouted as he covered his face with his palm.
"I'm the only one who didn't see it...! All because I woke up too soon...!!!"
Drei was genuinely distraught.
'Is this guy... actually going crazy because of me?'
Rishir was utterly baffled.
He deliberately ignored Drei and checked on the others.
"Ah...!"
Someone who recognized his face approached.
It was Shira, from Chender's group.
Shira approached Rishir as if entranced and stared quietly at his face.
She soon murmured.
"Choo-in-ni...?"
"Pardon?"
"Am I still dreaming? Or—"
"Shira. Calm yourself. The nightmare is over."
Chender, realizing Shira's state, hurried over and steadied her.
Even so, Shira's gaze remained fixed on Rishir.
"You were real...?"
It was a soft murmur from Shira.
"Hm..."
Rishir's expression grew complicated.
Chender glanced at him and said.
"My apologies, Sir Rishir. It seems this girl is still not quite herself."
"Pardon? Ah! No, that's not—"
Rishir gathered his thoughts and let out a small chuckle.
"How should I put it? Entering other people's dreams and running amok—it makes me feel like I've strayed far from ordinary humanity, doesn't it? Just a fleeting thought."
"Rishir."
Palrag approached and patted Rishir's shoulder.
He smiled kindly and said.
"No need to worry about that."
"Ah! Duke Palrag, thank you for the comfort—"
"Even without that, you've long since been far beyond the realm of ordinary humans."
"..."
It was then.
"Ugh...!"
"Lady Halona!?"
Halona staggered in place and collapsed to the floor.
The aftermath of the nightmare lingered in her body as fatigue.
Rishir exchanged glances with Palrag and Chender before saying.
"Shall we call it here for now? Everyone needs rest."
Later.
Rishir returned to his room with Clana—
"Clana!?"
He cried out urgently.
Clana, whose condition had been off since contact with the High Priest.
The moment she entered the room, she collapsed onto the sofa.
"..."
Snore, snore.
At the belated sound of her peaceful breathing, Rishir finally set aside his worries.
He picked up Clana's body and moved her to the bed.
"Come to think of it—we never got to spar in the end. I didn't even get to ask Halona about Clana's condition."
Rishir gave a wry smile and shook his head.
'Well, nothing to be done. That mess happened out of nowhere.'
Not everything goes according to plan.
He hadn't accomplished anything—
Hadn't gained anything—
But he was grateful that, for now, he hadn't lost anything.
With that, Rishir wrapped up the events and lay down on the sofa.
"Choo-in-ni!"
"Hm? Ber?"
Someone blocked his path.
It was the baby sand spirit with an expression so vibrant it was impossible to read her intentions.
"Why? Isn't it time for Ko-ko-nap yet? Shall we sleep a bit later?"
"!!!"
The baby spirit vigorously shook her head and opened her mouth wide with an 'ah'.
Plop.
Something fell from the baby spirit's mouth onto the floor.
"Hm? What is it? Tonsil stone?"
Rishir bent down to pick it up.
The moment he brought it before his eyes to inspect—
"Huh?"
Its form crumbled and was absorbed straight into Rishir's body.
Rishir looked down at his body in bewilderment.
That day—
The nightmare that had blanketed Bondales through the High Priests' ritual had targeted only the strong.
However.
Figures like the frozen Palrag and certain other powerhouses had been free from that nightmare.
Because they possessed power so immense that the indiscriminately scattered nightmare—lacking concentrated force—could not invade them.
But that night.
The nightmare came for them as well.
The nightmare, now elevated to a higher realm, infiltrated them without discrimination—
And delved deep into their innermost beings, unearthing their primal anxieties.
They often thought of a certain man.
What if.
What if this man had walked the wrong path?
"Rishir...?"
Now, that possibility unfolded before their eyes as reality.
The world was engulfed in ominous flames.