Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Demon King Qlus, Descends! #6
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After letting out a brief cheer of joy, I immediately got to work butchering the lizard's corpse.
The easily spoiling innards needed to be removed and discarded quickly. That was just common sense. I'd seen it every time in those documentaries.
—Tsk.
I cracked the head open, then used my hand axe to slice into the belly right away. Of course, the dull blade didn't cut smoothly. I had to saw back and forth like I was using a saw.
"Hm... good enough."
Carefully, so as not to damage the innards.
This was straight out of the documentaries too. If you nick the innards while opening the belly, blood or half-digested contents could burst out and contaminate the meat.
Of course, being my first time, it was fucking hard. It didn't go as planned. But thinking of it as life-or-death work got results.
"Innard removal success."
"Keruk..."
"Hm?"
Buril was staring at the innards, drooling like crazy. Well, he was a monster too. Probably wanted to eat them raw.
"Eat up!"
"Keruk!"
The moment I gave the order, Buril grabbed the innards and started chomping away. He was making a total mess, smearing bits of flesh and blood all over his mouth. It was like watching a kid eat mushy baby food, drool everywhere. Damn, it was adorable. My eyes must be going funny.
"Hey. Eat while we walk."
"Kurrung."
I hoisted the freshly butchered lizard over my shoulder and moved out... Meat. Fuck, finally gonna eat some meat. Just thinking about it had my mouth watering. Guess I'm no different from a goblin.
Anyway, let's go grill it up with Buril! Sharing makes it taste better!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Time to prep the fire."
This was a race against time now. The second we got back to the beets, I gathered tinder—twigs, dried plant stems, that sort of thing.
"Buril. You gather rocks about the size of my fist from around here."
"Keruk keruk."
He took the order and started diligently collecting stones right in my line of sight. Why was this little guy so damn cute? From climbing the tree for fruit to hunting the lizard—everything he did was just too precious.
This dude was too versatile.
He felt less like a subordinate and more like a soulmate.
Hold up. Demon Kings have Four Heavenly Kings, right? And Four Heavenly Kings serve the Demon King. So if I make it big and become a real-deal Demon King someday, hell yeah. I'll give Buril one of those spots.
Something badass like Goblin Heavenly King or Dick Prince—some cringey, spine-tingling nickname. He'd love it.
"Ahh, the ecosystem."
This was the ecosystem in action.
A tiny, pathetic-looking goblin scrap. Even a single noob goblin shitstain knew how to survive out here in the wilds. Never underestimate them. They'd honed their local survival chops.
And I was grateful for it.
"Miraculous."
"Keruk keruk."
I quickly built a simple campfire using the stones Buril gathered and the tinder I'd collected.
Now just make skewers, light it up, and roast away.
—Splash splash.
I rinsed my hands with water from the canteen, then shoved my hand between the lizard's skin and flesh.
"Hraaaah!"
—Rip!
Pulled hard, separating skin from meat. Pink flesh exposed. It actually worked. The hide peeled off easier than expected, even if it was a bit stubborn. Time to skin it properly.
"Keruk..."
Buril watched, smacking his lips.
Couldn't give him any yet, though. —Slash! I used my demon claws to strip the meat. As a demon, my nails were sharp and tough—perfect for shredding flesh.
"Demon claws for the win."
I threaded the stripped meat onto the twigs I'd saved.
"Fuck."
The meat was too firm; it wouldn't slide on easy. Everything was manual labor from start to finish.
Still.
Kept at it, and it all worked out. Lost a fair bit to scraps, but I made full lizard meat skewers.
"Phew."
"Keruk."
Time to grill.
"Hey, Buril. Watch close. I'm about to show you how to light a fire, fuck yeah."
"Keruk?"
Fire.
Starting a fire's no joke. Modern folks got lighters or torches, sure. But in the wild? Pure, unadulterated grunt work.
You gather shit, rub sticks like a maniac, spin and friction-fuck 'em till sparks fly—if you're lucky.
Was I about to do that?
Thinking about it pissed me off.
Nah.
"Heh, heh heh heh. Yeah."
I.
Kim Qlus.
Wasn't human. I was a demon.
A demon versed in basic black magic, no less.
So obviously... no need for that grunt work.
None!
"Behold, Buril!"
"Keruk?"
I stared at the prepared campfire.
And.
—Roooar.
Drew up demonic power from my body. That inhuman, supernatural energy humans lacked. The power born of being a demon! Focusing on it, I recalled the black magic formula I'd learned!
"Grooo...!"
My chest burned hot! That blazing energy slowly climbed my throat.
The moment it hit critical mass!
—Flash!
I struck the pose on cue!
"Puh-hooooooo!"
I exhaled!
—Fwooooosh!
Purple flames erupted from my mouth like a fire breather's show! Chills! This was the basic black magic Kartiya taught me—Demon Breath!
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Demon Breath (Basic) Purple flames scorch targets / Ignites fires / Toothbrush effect
"Demon Breath, fwoosh!"
The breath lasted about two seconds and slammed the campfire perfectly. Result: purple flames roared up from the pyre.
—Fwoom!
"Lit!"
The fire caught. It burned purple for another two seconds before shifting to normal colors. The demonic power was spent. Demon Realm flames reverted to ordinary fire...!
"Being a real demon is fucking awesome!"
Never dreamed I'd love these inhuman traits. Breathing fire? Total monster shit. But I dug the monster vibe. Plus, Demon Breath had a killer perk: it doubled as brushing your teeth.
"Fucking perfect."
But damn, one use drained my power dry. Whatever. Eat, sleep, recover.
"Kerrrruk...!"
"Hm?"
Buril was kneeling, hands over his face, staring at the fire.
—Tremble tremble...!
His body shook violently.
"No way."
"Kerrrruk...!"
"You felt the 'shivers' from my 'greatness'?"
"Keruk keruk!"
I emphasized it, and he yipped something back. As expected! No sibling tops their bro! He was shocked! Good job, Buril!
"Heh heh heh! Kid. This is big bro's power. Got it?"
"Keruk keruk! Kerrruk! Kruk!"
I patted his head, and he chattered excitedly at me. No clue what he said.
"Anyway, let's grill."
I held the skewers to the flames. First time roasting meat over an open fire like this. Only seen it in docs or that one travel show... Ah, fuck. Travel show got me missing home.
Demon Realm, not Earth.
"Keruk keruk."
"Hey fuck, wait your turn. Bro eats first, got it? Quit whining."
"Kerring..."
"Kidding. We'll eat together soon."
—Crackle, pop.
The sun dipped low.
The roasting meat smelled amazing.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Huh?"
Woke up from a deep sleep to a shocking change in my body. Dream or reality? Mind racing, I sat up straight, circulated my demonic power, and checked it out.
"It's grown...!"
My max demonic power had ticked up—just a smidge!
From like 8 to 9!
"Fuck yes!"
This was it!
Monster Domination success, demonic power infusion to Buril went smooth, used Demon Breath and properly wielded power, then ate well, meditated, slept great—so max capacity increased!
Demonic power grows the more you use it, honing the feel...!
"Alright!"
The encouraging progress had tears welling up first thing. Sure, tiny change, but early gains like this were gold. Stack 'em up, and you grow.
Keep eating right, using power, living right—soon I'd be a full-fledged demon!
"Grr... Hey! You, Buril! Sleeping in past your bro?"
"Ke, keruk?"
I scolded him, and Buril—snot bubble and all, deep in dreamland next to me—bolted upright, tilting his head. Blinking sleepily.
"Let it slide 'cause you're cute. Let's move. Daily grind awaits."
"Keruk keruk."
Out of the beets, Buril followed.
"What's on today's agenda? Guess."
"Geruk, sniff. Kul kuk?"
"Nah, dude. Speak so I get it."
"Keruk? Kerek kerek?"
"Fuck it, never mind talking."
Today's task was simple.
"Spear-making day."
Spears. Thought about it yesterday. We fought a lizard and won. Combat. For combat, what's essential? Weapons.
Hadn't seen any real threats yet.
But absence of evidence ain't evidence of absence. They exist. So, arm up.
"First, gather twigs and rocks."
"Caeruk caeruk."
Primitive wood-and-stone spear. Perfect twigs everywhere; just need good rocks.
Smash, split small, grind to a spear tip. Attach to twig. Done. Bindings from plant fibers, easy.
"Let's go! Move out!"
"Keruk!"
Weapons would bring peace of mind.
But foraging for spear materials? Like a caveman. Crafting from scratch—Demon King? More like Demon Survivalist.
"Survivalist suits me."
That's when we were out collecting rocks with Buril.
"Ke, keruk?!"
Buril froze, clapped hands over mouth, crouched low, trembling as he looked at me!
Danger—run signal!
—Flash!
I scooped him under my arm and dove into nearby bushes, hunkering down!
What!
What the hell appeared?!