Chapter 420
Chapter 420
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 421
Chapter Title: The Proven King
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A full moon hidden within the clouds rose into the sky, and black demonic energy began to billow thickly like smoke across the entire 'Island of the Moon.'
Soon, the black demonic energy slowly gathered in one place, swirling into a vortex around the man standing at the center—the 'King.'
Whiiiiiing!
All the demons on the ground looked up at the King with eyes filled with shock.
His pupils were beginning to darken, a precursor to berserk transformation.
And the tyrannical demonic energy spreading out from him...
It was hard to believe this was the same guy mocked as the "weakest" in jest. He exuded an immense presence, overwhelming everyone single-handedly.
'...W-What's going on here?'
The former elders of the Demon Council sensed that things were going awry as they gazed at the 'King' before them.
Just moments ago, the energy emanating from the King hadn't been particularly remarkable.
He clearly possessed strength greater than an average demon, but it was far too insignificant to call the power of a 'King.'
Yet somehow, in an instant, his presence had exploded, displaying an overwhelming might reminiscent of past Kings.
"Guh!"
At that moment, Elder Ha Shin's face drained of color as he clutched his throat.
The intense presence radiating from the King's body was strangling his breath.
"Kuh, guh!"
Ha Shin let out agonized groans as he slowly knelt before the King.
He thrashed desperately to escape the King's energy, but the gap in their levels was overwhelming.
As Ha Shin—the object of all demons' respect—collapsed, the demons' eyes began to fill with horror.
"...O, O King!"
Finally, unable to stand by, one elder called out to the King in desperation.
His tone was markedly more deferential than before...
But as if he didn't care, the King merely looked down silently at the kneeling Ha Shin.
"I'll ask again. Why should I seek your recognition?"
Sensing his life in peril, Ha Shin tried to answer the question immediately.
But the King's demonic energy choked his voice. He looked up at the King with eyes full of grievance.
"O, O King..."
"...O King! Please, have mercy!"
Another elder cried out to the King once more.
This time, his voice seemed to reach, as the King turned his head and met the elder's gaze.
Their eyes locked, and the elder felt a chill run down his spine.
A cold stare devoid of any emotion.
It reminded him of the day he first laid eyes on the Second King.
Fear gripped his mind, but he mustered his courage and spoke.
"...O-Our judgment was poor, and we committed a grave error. O King. Please... please show mercy..."
At the elder's repeated pleas, the King finally spoke.
"You clearly intended to harm me."
The elder tried to offer an excuse, but the King continued first.
"If I had possessed the insignificant power you imagined, you would have tried to take what I have."
"T-That's..."
"It's too late for excuses now. I already know your vile nature—how you trample only the weak."
He seemed to address the elder, but it was a warning to every demon present.
The demonic trait of being strong against the weak and weak against the strong.
It was a jab at the entire demon race.
"My mistake. I should have realized sooner that you lot submit to the strong."
With those words, the energy pouring from the King intensified.
The demonic energy had spread past his right eye, now staining his left eye black as well.
Along with it, the pressure that had been bearing down on Ha Shin began to affect every demon in attendance.
Even the elders standing silently in the back with fearful eyes felt their breaths constrict and writhed in agony.
"...O King."
Just as everyone was crying out in pain from the King's berserk state.
A low voice from Ha Ryeong rang out.
The King turned his head toward her.
He had deliberately controlled his demonic energy to spare her, but even she looked overwhelmed by it.
"...If I may overstep, I believe this is sufficient."
At her words, the King glanced around.
Every demon inside the banquet hall was staring at him with eyes of terror.
"...O King."
And Seon Hwa, who had now appeared, softly called out to him as well.
The King looked at the two of them, fell silent for a moment, then let out a small sigh.
Suuuuu...
The murderous demonic energy that had oppressed the entire space vanished in an instant.
The King's blackened eyes returned to normal.
"...Hah. Hah."
Ha Shin, finally able to breathe, drooled as he gasped raggedly.
The other elders were the same.
Ha Ryeong looked at them and said,
"The King has shown mercy, but there will be no second time."
Ha Shin, having somewhat regained his composure, looked up at the King with trembling eyes.
All traces of his former arrogance were gone.
In its place, his eyes were filled with fear and dread.
Shaking violently, Ha Shin straightened his upper body and knelt on one knee before the King.
The traditional demon posture of pledging loyalty to the King.
"...O King. Thank you for your mercy."
His tone was now utterly deferential.
Ha Shin continued.
"...And though belated, allow me to greet you. Great Elder Ha Shin pays respects to the new King of our illustrious race."
At the same time, every demon followed Ha Shin's lead and knelt on one knee.
—We pay respects to the new King.
Ha Ryeong watched the scene, her heart trembling.
To be honest, compared to past Kings, the current one had his rough edges.
She had worries and doubts about whether he could unify the fractured demon society.
It was natural, since unlike the Second, the Third had ascended to the throne by his own will.
But those had been needless concerns on her part.
The Third had swiftly accepted and adapted to his position.
And when crisis struck, he had instantly grasped what to do, overwhelming everyone and proving who the 'King' truly was.
In his eyes now, she saw the Third overlapping with the First King she had once loyally served long ago.
And conviction was born.
This King was worth her loyalty.
Ha Ryeong calmed her trembling heart and said,
"Now that the situation is resolved, we shall proceed with the succession ceremony."
['King's Qualification Proven' achievement unlocked.]
[5,000 points acquired as reward.]
['Limit Transcendence' achievement unlocked.]
[5,000 points acquired as reward.]
[Countless demons pledge their loyalty to you.]
[10,000 points acquired as reward.]
[Future changes detected.]
[Karma increases by 1.]
After the incident passed.
While preparing for the succession ceremony, I checked the rewards I'd just earned.
20,000 points and 1 karma.
A satisfying haul in such a short time.
All the fatigue from earlier melted away in an instant.
'...Well, that worked out nicely.'
I looked down at the outdoor banquet hall on the ruins below.
The cynical atmosphere from before had vanished completely, replaced by a somewhat solemn mood.
The unexpected commotion had probably put everyone on edge.
I recalled the memory from then.
Ha Shin, who had shown me hostility...
Truth be told, I could have killed him if I'd wanted.
With the demon society in turmoil and me at its center looking vulnerable.
No one could complain if I made an example of him, and the demons' reactions afterward would have shifted.
But I didn't.
There were several reasons, but the biggest was that I didn't want to follow the Second King's path.
Fear-based rule has the advantage of uniting everyone, but it easily breeds grudges.
If my foundation were solid, maybe, but as a newbie King, killing Ha Shin—the recipient of all demons' respect—could shake things up badly.
Another reason was that Ha Ryeong and Seon Hwa didn't want him dead.
They know demon politics better than I do, so I decided to heed their opinions.
Anyway, I went a bit overboard thinking I needed to grab control from the start, but the results are satisfying.
"...Still, it's intriguing."
I tore my gaze from the demons and leaned against the wall.
Just now, the Blessing of the Moon and berserk transformation had activated simultaneously, granting me an enormous power I'd never felt before.
Even for that brief time, simple math put it at nearly 8 times my strength.
"...What is it."
The Blessing of the Moon gives 4.4 times the stats.
Partial berserk transformation allows up to 2 times.
Addition should yield 6.4 times normally.
"...No way it's multiplicative?"
But even multiplication doesn't match the exact figure.
As I pondered that, another oddity came to mind.
Recalling the moment, my rationality held much better during berserk than usual.
...As if the 'berserk transformation' was struggling against the 'Blessing of the Moon'?
At least that's how it felt to me.
Normally, berserk's powerful demonic energy forcibly engulfs me.
And no demonic power exhaustion from the encroachment either—I was fine.
Feels like I have multiple egos inside me or something.
Traits fighting each other, huh.
I couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity.
Still, I learned one thing this time.
With the Blessing of the Moon active, I can use berserk transformation far more stably.
Big boon for me.
"O King. It's time."
Lost in thought, Ha Ryeong approached me.
...It's finally starting.
The succession ceremony.
Just a simple ritual, yet it filled me with needless tension.
Or is it simple?
According to Seon Hwa, I gain one authority from it...
"Hmm..."
Wonder what authority I'll get.
Prophecy like the First? Immortality?
Various guesses arose, but with preparations needed, I'd think later.
"Just to confirm once more, the succession ceremony procedure is..."
"I'm good. I remember it."
The procedure isn't overly complex—I've got it memorized.
Ha Ryeong looked at my face and nodded.
Then she called out loudly.
"We now begin the succession ceremony."
In an instant, the surroundings fell silent as all eyes turned to me.
I moved forward, receiving their gazes, following Ha Ryeong.
The procedure is simple.
Climb the stairs in the center of this 'Moon Ruins' and stand before the [Moon Altar].
Then drink from the holy relic on the altar—the Chalice of Blood—after filling it with my own blood.
I walked along the long path toward the stairs.
Countless demons in formal attire bowed their heads to me on either side.
And in my wake, brilliant ritual lights blazed up, illuminating the darkness.
Arriving before the stairs, I stopped and looked up at the Moon Altar.
For some reason, my feet wouldn't move.
Doubts like "Is becoming the demons' King really right for me?" lingered in my mind.
But it was too late to turn back. I had no place to return to anyway.
...Sigh.
How did it come to this.
Never imagined I'd end up as the demons' King.
Suddenly, faces of the key figures I'd left at the Magic Academy flashed in my mind.
Lee Seo-jun, Yoon Ha-young, Shin Young-jun, Yoo Ah-ra. And Choi Seo-yoon...
The goodwill they'd shown me. The memories we'd shared. They kept surfacing.
Bittersweet feelings mixed with gratitude and guilt.
"...I wonder if they're doing well."
Curious what they think of me now.
Maybe they feel betrayed, even hostile.
I let out a short breath and stepped toward the stairs.
Step.
With each step up, a sacred energy unique to the ruins spread outward.
Feeling wonder at the mystical phenomenon I'd never experienced, I continued ascending the endlessly long stairs.
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