Chapter 410
Chapter 410
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 410
Chapter Title: Demon World's Temple (4)
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A human from Earth and a demon born in the Demon World.
Despite their polar opposite origins, the two strikingly similar men silently gazed at each other.
"......"
"......"
No real conversation passed between them.
They simply exchanged glances, sharing the complex emotions buried deep within.
But that was enough.
Though they were now divided into two, they were essentially one and the same at their core.
Ever since he'd crossed into Outerica more than twenty years ago and lost access to the system, his unique skill "Thought Transference"—Miyamoto Ken's innate ability—hadn't fully faded yet, not quite thirty years in.
However—
'...Too late, after all.'
Still lying on the altar, the original body gazed up at his demon self with unmoving eyes. Ken slowly closed his own.
Yes, they both already knew.
Miyamoto Ken's life, now sacrificed as the ritual's offering, was nearing its end.
It wasn't just physical exhaustion from lack of sustenance.
From the potential in each and every cell to the mind forming his ego and even the foundation of his soul—everything had been depleted.
He was little more than ashes with a faint spark on the verge of extinguishing.
'Too late...'
No one could save him now, no matter who came.
Not a saint, not a demon king, not even a dragon—and certainly not if he suddenly attained enlightenment and transcended on his own.
The mere fact that he'd opened his eyes in that state was a miracle in itself.
It must have been triggered by contact with him, the one who'd come all this way.
Ken looked down at the original body on the altar with complicated eyes.
A mere copy born from the unique skill "Thought Transference," warped by curses and reshaped by demonic flesh into something far from the original.
Yet no matter what anyone said, the true wielder of that power was the Miyamoto Ken lying there now. He was undeniably an artificial creation born from it.
And so.
That made it all the more shocking.
"...Are you really okay with this?"
A certain will transmitted from the original body, Miyamoto Ken.
"......"
Even amid the surprise, he only gave a faint smile.
Demon Ken watched him with a subtle expression, unable to speak due to his shrunken vocal cords.
For one fully transformed into a demon, it was an emotion forever beyond comprehension.
"Then let's begin right away."
But it wasn't bad for him, so he didn't refuse.
Knowing time was short, he wasted no more hesitation and moved straight into action.
A "Demon Contract," with the contractor's soul as the price.
"Azi DeQure de roTuS Vi..." With a low incantation, one of Ken's hands covered the closed eyes of the original body, while the other gripped its limp, bony hand.
The sight was too reverent for a sinister contract.
It almost resembled a holy rite to comfort one on their deathbed.
And as if rebelling against it—
Woooong—
As the demon contract slowly progressed, the altar—and the entire ritual chamber connected to it—began to resist fiercely.
As if refusing to let go of what had fallen into its grasp.
Miyamoto Ken had already been offered as the ritual's sacrifice, after all.
"DoU keTep JAd ra..." Procedurally, the ritual held priority after over twenty years of progress, and its sheer output dwarfed his efforts.
Normally, a later contract would be repelled outright—but Ken ignored the backlash entirely.
And for good reason.
The subject and object of this contract weren't strangers; they were one.
Krzzzzzt—!
A crack formed in the ongoing ritual, overwhelmed by the unbreakable karmic bond that ignored all procedures.
Like a massive clockwork mechanism grinding as one tiny gear was forcibly yanked out.
Ken's intervention, closer in relation than the ritual's claim, was the cause.
It went beyond mere disruption.
'After twenty years of unpaid labor, I deserve at least a modest severance.'
Ken's eyes narrowed as he slowly extracted the deeply rooted soul of the original body.
Vast energy followed the shattered soul remnants.
The energy source sustaining not just this ritual, but the mysterious temple in the Demon World itself.
One of its pillars had been uprooted entirely.
Rumble—
The once-still temple shook like an earthquake, but Ken paid it no mind.
He knew the energy he'd siphoned couldn't collapse the ritual, let alone the temple.
Regrettably, the original body's condition prevented deeper interference.
'Still, this should suffice... as severance.'
With that thought, Ken looked down.
The real Miyamoto Ken stared up with clearer eyes, invigorated by the sudden influx of massive energy.
But it was temporary; it would vanish once the contract completed.
Aware of this, the original body seized the moment, laboriously opening his mouth.
"......Ah."
A faint, faltering voice escaped his trembling lips.
Communication via "Thought Transference" would have sufficed, but this time, he refused it.
As if desperate to leave some trace of his existence in this world.
"...Farewell... Ken..."
His voice, cracked from twenty years of disuse.
But those were his final words.
And Miyamoto Ken—no, the man reduced to ashes after yielding even his last spark—smiled faintly.
Woooong—
With that, the contract was complete.
The Earthling who'd bequeathed his name as a final testament peacefully closed his eyes.
"......"
The demon, now the sole "Ken" left in the world, quietly gazed down.
At the empty altar, holding only discarded clothes.
"...The contract is sealed."
The soul received was too damaged to hold value for other demons, but to him, it meant something entirely different.
The innate void he'd carried since birth was filled, a profound fullness rising from deep within his chest.
Crunch—
Even clad in a demon king's flesh, his body—stuck at count rank—rapidly reconstructed on the stolen energy's foundation.
He hadn't leaped multiple ranks at once, but resolving the imperfection that had blocked his growth laid the groundwork for steady advancement.
"The price is all of Miyamoto Ken. And the wish granted..."
He was no longer a mere replicated ego created by another—
"...is to live on in his stead."
Now, he was a true demon, standing alone and whole in this world.
Marquis-rank Demon Ken slowly surveyed his surroundings.
This was the heart of Duke Mad Dragon's schemes.
Unexpected events had delayed him, but his mission remained unchanged.
"Finally done, eh?"
"Kahahat! Looks like you scored something nice too, bro!"
"Then let's move! Duke Mad Dragon should be back any moment."
Just then, Davidson approached. While Ken had handled the contract, he'd been scouting the temple interior busily.
Ken didn't question how he knew the outside situation—just nodded quietly.
Sent personally by Lady Hela, such abilities weren't surprising.
"...Yeah, took longer than expected. Let's hurry."
The mission wasn't over.
He'd come here for intel and sabotage against Duke Mad Dragon, after all.
With personal business settled, his original purpose reignited a fierce glint in his eyes.
"Grab everything we can, destroy what we can't."
"Ooh, music to my ears!"
"Grr! No meat around here?"
"Already cleared that side, bro. Place is big, but his main areas are limited!"
Davidson, self-proclaimed Demon World's top hunting dog with three sensitive noses and three keen eyes, snorted proudly.
Ken nodded and scanned the area again.
"Alright, then I'll start with these offerings here."
He'd grasped the space's importance while wresting away that energy.
Common sense in enemy territory: destroy core facilities first.
Drawing on the faintly felt power of "Thought Transference" within, he stepped forward slowly.
Of course, purely for the mission.
No personal grudge.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Heron! Where the hell have you been? What's with your arm?!"
"Ahaha... Well, things just kinda... happened?"
"Haa— I got a frantic call from the hospital director, thinking it was serious..."
Hesperon scratched the back of his head sheepishly at the woman's exasperated sigh.
Aware he'd worried her, he had no retort.
He knew she spoke out of care.
"...Anyway, you're hopeless. You sure you're really okay? Nothing hurts?"
"Of course! The old man's just overreacting. No issues at all. Got backups just in case."
Princess Riley of the Azerion Empire—next in line for the throne—eyed him skeptically amid her busy schedule.
Shocked by the hospital director's urgent summons, she'd rushed over after hastily wrapping up pressing matters.
From her perspective, his bold claims rang hollow.
'Where the hell does he wander off to? I tried not to fuss since he hates being cooped in the palace...'
She wanted to lock him away safely forever, but couldn't.
He wasn't her property.
And given he'd escaped the Immortal King's lair, containment seemed impossible anyway.
'...Wait. Speaking of...'
A memory flashed through her mind.
She whipped her head around, hand over mouth, eyes widening in blinks.
'R-Right, we made that contract during his escape? The conditions...'
He wasn't hers, but she was effectively his.
That was the nature of their pact.
No matter the distance, if he willed it, he could communicate or summon her anytime, anywhere.
'Ugh, I knew, but... Is this really okay? I'm the future empress. Being someone's possession...'
Thankfully, no one—not even grand mages—had noticed, thanks to his otherworldly powers.
But as future emperor, it was a fatal flaw.
She swallowed hard, anxiety surging despite prior awareness.
'No, not all bad. It's helped me a ton so far—like the best insurance.'
With him by her side through dangers, she could navigate crises as before.
His abilities were proven in past events.
'Yeah, water under the bridge. Might even be a good thing...'
Lost in thought, Riley's cheeks flushed.
She envisioned herself as empress, Hesperon steadfast at her side.
And that image soon expanded beyond just them...
"Riley?"
"Y-Yes?!"
Startled by his call, she jumped and turned, flustered.
Hesperon flinched at her reaction too.
She'd just been groaning to herself.
Quickly reading the mood, she cleared her throat casually.
"Ahem, please take better care from now on. You're not alone anymore, Heron."
"Huh?"
"Ah?"
A slip from her prior thoughts.
After frantic excuses, she recalled unfinished business and hurried off.
Promising to provide anything he needed.
Hesperon chuckled, seeing her off like a gust of wind.
Then he stared seriously at his right arm, deep in thought.
"Hmm, this shouldn't affect anyone nearby, right?"
The black stains had grown.
But the seal still held firm.
'Still, with something that potent inside, who knows.'
Remnants of a former demon king.
Mere leaked traces could subtly influence others unnoticed.
He might be immune to mental attacks, missing it.
"...Better hurry the new seal array."
Lipsmacking lightly, he clenched his fist tight.
Immense power pulsed despite the seal.
'Could summon Ken with this. Wonder if it works on Earth too?'
Thinking of the marquis-rank demon linked to the dark spirit in his arm, he smiled softly.
Pondering how to accelerate his excellent slave's growth.