Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Demon King Qlus, Descends! #9
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Kartiya had shared a secret black magic spell with me. It was called the Demonic Power Extraction Method.
According to her, all the monsters in the Middle Realm were degraded descendants of ancient demonic beasts from the Demon Realm. That meant even they had trace amounts of demonic power within their bodies.
Now, I was going to extract it from this fresh kobold corpse. If not now, when else would I get the chance to test it? This wasn't even in the basic black magic book I had. Better use it before I forgot.
"Keruk?"
Buril tilted his head at me, his mouth stained bright red.
"What, curious?"
"Keruk."
"Then watch... mumblemumble."
I began chanting the incantation, sensing the demonic power in my heart. I'd used about half treating Buril earlier, so that was what remained. I manipulated it as precisely as possible.
Concentrating it into my right hand.
And then—
—Ziiing.
"Ooh...!"
A purple magic circle appeared on the back of my hand! Success! The first time I'd made this... yeah, Kartiya had drawn it on my hand with her finger.
"Kartiya, are you watching?!"
Perfect! Staring at the glowing circle, the incantation unfolded rapidly in my mind. I recited it precisely while giving Buril orders.
"Buril, hurry up. Lay that female kobold flat on her back in front of me."
"Keruk."
Buril dragged the kobold corpse over and laid it out straight in front of me. The moment I placed my hand on its chest—
—Fwoosh.
My vision.
Turned purple. Was light pouring out? No, this was coming from my eyes. My gaze was glowing.
"In you go!"
Imagining I was gripping its heart, I pushed my hand forward—shluck! It sank into the kobold's chest like plunging into mud!
"Keruk...!"
—Tremble tremble...!
Buril shuddered and shrank back, staring in awe. No need to worry. It had worked.
"Yup!"
The instant I released my demonic power—
—Sizzle.
The kobold's body melted into a thick black sludge, dissolving in seconds.
"Perfect!"
Like sticky oil. The liquefied remains soaked straight into the ground, leaving the kobold corpse completely gone. Just a dark stain on the grass.
And in my hand remained...
"A demonic power stone."
A black, hard crystal the size of a child's fingernail. It looked like obsidian, but felt more like plastic.
"This is a demonic power stone!"
It contained the same demonic power flowing through my body. Trying to sense it... of course, nothing. This was extracted from a kobold, after all. Monsters had demonic power, sure, but in tiny amounts—and even less in a weakling like this.
Basically, scraps.
And even that got mostly lost in the extraction process.
"Still, better than nothing."
Collect enough of these tiny shards, and good things would come. Kartiya said steady intake would boost my total demonic power.
"Thanks for the secret technique."
"Keruk?"
"Buril, one of my benefactors is this girl named Kartiya. When I make it big and return to the Demon Realm, I'll introduce you."
"Keruk? Keruk keruk!"
He was thrilled.
Of course, even if I returned to the Demon Realm, Buril was coming with me. He was my soul-bound partner. No way I'd abandon him. At this point, he felt like a little brother.
"The Demon Realm is fucking awesome. We'll live there together someday."
"Keruk."
Truth be told, even if I went back, that crazy duchess might use me however she wanted. But if I begged, she'd probably cut me some slack.
"Alright, let's head back. Buril, carry the kobold corpse you were eating."
"Keruk!"
And so, Buril and I returned to my dungeon.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Back home, I was utterly drained, so I ate some leftover lizard meat and gathered fruit, then meditated briefly inside the dungeon with Buril before crashing on the divan.
While doing that, I ran one test.
Bringing the kobold corpse inside the dungeon. Sharing a cramped space with a fucked-up corpse wasn't ideal for sleeping, but this was essential, so I did it.
And when I woke...
"As expected."
"Keruk."
No bugs on the kobold corpse at all. Same yesterday. Normally, flies swarm fresh corpses to lay eggs. This backwater had plenty of small insects.
But none now.
"Is it because I'm a demon? My evil aura keeps them away?"
"Keruk?"
"What do you think when you look at me?"
"Keruk keruk!"
—Bounce bounce!
Thrilled, bouncing around.
"Yeah, what would you know."
If this were Earth, we'd hit a disco and bounce together. I pictured us at an amusement park, riding rides, wearing fun hats, eating cotton candy. Pure bliss.
"Alright, eat this and let's start the day."
A day had passed, but the cool night kept it fresh. No bugs anyway.
—Sizzle.
—Sizzle.
I sliced off meat and made skewers. While I worked, Buril gathered kindling.
—Fwooooosh!
Demon Breath ignited it, and we roasted the meat. The smell was decent.
"I get two, you get one."
"Keruk keruk."
But damn tough. Still, hunger's the best sauce—it went down fine.
"Shame about the hide."
Catching a furry monster like this, I regretted wasting it. Primitive folks always wore beast pelts. How could I use it?
"Tanning."
I needed to tan it.
I knew it involved cleaning the hide, scraping off meat and fat, drying, smoking... but details? No modern Earthling learns that.
If I could, clothing worries would ease. Even get panties for naked Buril.
"Done eating?"
"Keruk."
"Then let's sharpen stones."
Time for spears.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Done! One finished!"
Grinding that stone shard since yesterday—endless grinding—and finally, a stone spearhead!
"Kya! Fucking nailed it! Turns out I'm a blacksmith genius!"
"Keruk keruk!"
"Applaud! Applause!"
—Clap clap clap clap!
Buril clapped excitedly!
"Applause ain't enough! Do jumping jacks! Jumping jacks!"
"Keruk!"
—Bounce bounce!
His bouncing was adorable. A bit of training, and he could dance or do acrobatics? Fingers crossed.
"Alright, Buril. Grab the cord I made."
"Keruk."
He fetched the bundle—tough plant stems split and twisted. Low durability, but tools like this were disposable. Make more as needed.
"Assembly time!"
Split the end of a straight branch with my axe, wedge in the spearhead, bind tight with cord... done!
"Wooden spear!"
"Keruk!"
Spear complete!
"Grade-wise, common rarity."
Basic of basics. Junk of junk. Crappy item, but crafting it was pure grind.
—Grip.
I hefted it.
"Oh, ooh...! Nice! This is nice! Looks fucking great!"
"Keruk...!"
Solid spear! Good grip! Sure, it'd shatter after a few thrusts—that's what wooden spears are for!
"With this, hunting and fighting get more stable!"
"Keruk!"
"Now, make a shit ton more just like it!"
"Keruk...?"
"What? One enough? Nah, mass-produce and stockpile."
"..."
Buril sulked. Grinding stones must suck. Me too.
"Well... one today means no rush. Let's do something else."
"Keruk?"
"Buril, hold this."
"Keruk keruk."
He grabbed the spear—big for his waist-high size. I took a long branch too.
—Stance.
Spearman stance.
"Buril, copy my pose."
"Keruk?"
Question marks over his head, but he mimicked clumsily.
"Good."
Now.
Time to train him with this spear. Fighting the kobold showed it: Buril was a wild child. Charge in, claw and bite, brawl.
Great against similar sizes—his feral energy shone.
But against bigger foes? One leap, and done. I grabbed that kobold arm and smashed it like a flail.
Could happen to Buril.
So, reach weapons like spears. He's a goblin, but with training, he'd manage. Spears are beginner-friendly.
"Traaaaining! No daydreaming!"
"Ke, keruk?!"
"Eyes sharp! Begin!"
"Keruk!"
Buril tensed, gripping hard.
"From now! Mirror my moves! Begin!"
"Keruk!"
"Haaap!"
—Thrust!
Step forward, stab! Buril copied clumsily, stabbing his stone spear!
"Keruuung!"
Lame kiai, as expected.
"Traaaaining! What was that? Again!"
"Keruk!"
And so, spear training with Buril began.
Look—if he masters this, when I get more goblin minions, he can be drill sergeant. Build a goblin army... my goal.
"Traaaaining over! Buril! Good job! Great work!"
"Kererek!"
Pet his head on good reps. He loved it every time.