Chapter 269
Chapter 269
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 269
Chapter Title: Nephew (1)
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After that, Demian had to clean up.
Where people died, lingering thoughts remained. Black mages could read various pieces of information from these lingering thoughts.
It wouldn't be long before Pandemonium dispatched investigators, and those lingering thoughts could become a problem.
The lingering thoughts left behind as 'Woodchopping Victor' were no issue. In fact, they were welcome. Demian had come here precisely to sow chaos in Pandemonium.
But the lingering thoughts left as Demian Haksen were a problem.
So Demian erased all the lingering thoughts left by the Weaponmaster and Akilo's deaths.
Only then did he prepare to leave Spikehammer City.
"So, I'm thinking of heading out now..."
Demian asked with an incredulous look on his face.
"Why are you here?"
-You bastard! Not only are you not glad to see me, but what's with that reaction!
Kilo bellowed. Behind him stood ten more dwarves.
Naturally, all eleven were dead. They were conversing with Demian as souls.
"Didn't you leave with the other dwarves?"
-I tried to, but I changed my mind. I owe you too much to just leave like this.
Kilo thumped his chest with his fist.
-Our Spikehammer Clan may not know much else, but we can't live with debts! I'll stay by your side and repay mine!
"No need. Get lost."
Demian refused immediately. It was such an unexpected response that Kilo's expression went blank for a moment.
-Th, think it over again! Don't you covet our knowledge and skills?
"You lot should think it over. Do you even know what it means to follow me? It means becoming undead."
Demian's voice sharpened slightly.
"Becoming undead means becoming slaves to a black mage. And you want to follow me? Are you in your right minds...?"
-We are all in our right minds.
Kilo said firmly.
-I told you earlier. We Spikehammer dwarves can't live with debts. We owe you—and the black mages.
Kilo clenched both fists.
-Pandemonium. That trash heap destroyed our clan and city. We can't go back without repaying that debt.
The dwarves behind Kilo nodded in agreement.
-Demian, you killed the Weaponmaster. You'll keep fighting Pandemonium from now on, right? We want in on the revenge.
Demian was at a loss for words.
His head knew he should send them back.
But he couldn't help empathizing with their rage. He'd been there himself.
"Even so, you're entrusting yourselves to a black mage like me?"
-You're different from the other black mages.
"Different?"
-If you were a typical black mage, you would've just freed our clan's souls like that.
He was right.
Tens of thousands of dwarf souls had been bound in the furnace.
Taking them all in would grant an immense surge of black mana in one go.
Even without black mana, rare dwarf souls had endless uses.
But Demian had freed the dwarves without a second thought.
-We can trust you. Please take us in.
Kilo gazed at Demian with steadfast eyes.
It wasn't just Kilo. The ten dwarves behind him felt the same.
Demian drew in a deep breath.
Frankly, it was a request hard to refuse. The Spikehammer Clan were among the finest of dwarves.
With them by his side, they'd be a tremendous asset.
......Damn it. This is on you. Don't regret it later.
Demian extended his hand amid curses. Kilo grinned and clasped it.
-Master, looking forward to working with you.
* * *
A dark space.
Beneath the single lit lantern, something stirred.
"Heh, heh heh heh! Ha ha ha ha! Yes! It's coming again! More knowledge surging into me!"
Someone in a loose robe, appearing dwarfish despite the garb, was wildly dissecting a corpse with a knife.
"I'm going mad! Mad, I tell you! It's like someone's dumping knowledge straight into my head! Ha ha ha! Uh ha ha ha ha!"
Blood sprayed across his face and clothes with every slice, but the madman paid it no mind. As if every minute and second were precious.
"I've awakened! This is it! With this knowledge, I can make more!"
The madman thrust his blood-soaked hands skyward with a triumphant shout.
Then, footsteps approached from behind. A small-statured man hurried toward the madman.
"Lord Dorgo, forgive the interruption of your research."
His voice dripped with deference bordering on reverence.
The madman, Dorgo, pulled back his hood. A skull was revealed.
"Genak, what is it?"
"No reply from the Weaponmaster."
"Again?"
Dorgo's expression twisted. The skull contorted to form it.
"How many times is this?"
"The third. It's been a week with no contact."
"Strange. That guy has no reason to entertain other thoughts."
"I agree. Perhaps something happened..."
"Something? Ha ha ha ha! That's amusing."
Dorgo laughed loudly, wiping at his eye sockets with the back of his hand. No tears fell, of course.
"Few in this world can harm him. And those few? I have eyes on all of them."
-As expected of you, truly impressive!
"This isn't flattery. Point is, nothing's happened to him."
"Then why..."
Dorgo stroked his chin, deep in thought.
......Is he really plotting rebellion against me?
"Th-that's impossible! No one would harbor such disloyal thoughts..."
"You never know what's in a man's heart. Better confirm it."
Dorgo looked up. Something hung from the high ceiling.
"Iota. You'll have to go."
He addressed it. The thing stirred.
It unfurled its wings and descended to the ground.
Nearly three meters tall.
Disproportionately long limbs.
Two bat-like wings.
"Gulp."
Genak swallowed dryly at Iota's appearance.
Not because of its form. It was the overwhelming pressure radiating from Iota.
He'd felt something similar once before.
From the Weaponmaster, Sla, and the Lord of Ten Thousand Flames.
Pandemonium's pillars.
-Sha ha hat, did you call me, Mother?
Iota asked with a bizarre laugh. Dorgo frowned.
"I told you to call me Master."
-Don't be so stiff. I was born from your soul, right? Makes us parent and child, no?
"Tch, I made you too insolent."
-Sha ha hat, cut me some slack. Can't help how I was born.
Genak could only feel awe watching Iota converse casually with Dorgo.
Iota was one of the secret weapons Dorgo had labored over for centuries.
Despite the effort, Iota had lain soulless in the lab.
Dorgo had crafted the body but failed at a suitable soul.
He'd despaired, saying it'd take decades more.
But just days ago, Dorgo completed Iota.
Thanks to the constant 'bizarre inspirations.'
-So, what do you need?
"Go to the Huckmark Mountains and find the Weaponmaster. Convey my will and report back."
-Just find and kill him?
Dorgo shook his head at once.
"No. The Weaponmaster is essential for the War of Ruin."
-Aww, boring. What if they attack me first?
"Still no. Subdue and bring him to me."
-Eeeeeh.
Iota dragged out its complaint.
"Absolutely no killing. Not the Weaponmaster, and especially not Akilo with him."
-That dwarf? Why him?
"Akilo's knowledge and skills are vital to me. No one can replace him."
-Got it, I'll remember.
Iota spread its wings. Black mana surged.
The ceiling warped. Space crumpled, colorful gates opening.
-See you soon!
Iota flew into one. The gate swallowed it and vanished.
"Whew..."
With Iota gone, the heart-stopping pressure lifted. Genak wiped sweat from his brow and sighed in relief.
"Lord Iota is incredible, as always."
"Of course. Who made him?"
Dorgo beamed at Genak's admiration.
"Lord Dorgo, presumptuous as it is... don't we no longer need to hesitate on war with the Empire?"
Dorgo's secret weapons weren't just Iota.
Three more undead existed. Like Iota, they'd lacked egos until recently completed.
"With the Four Great Demon Kings you've created, crushing the Empire would be easy, no?"
Genak spoke sincerely.
In his view, the Four Great Demon Kings matched the Empire's might.
Add Pandemonium, and destroying the Empire was feasible.
"What are you saying? It's not enough. Far from it."
But Dorgo denied it without hesitation.
"Don't judge the Empire by what you see. They're a far vaster monster than you think."
His face had lost all mirth.
"Think beating them ends it? There's the Holy Church, Pafnir Mercenaries, other kingdoms too. Our forces fall short."
"I see..."
Genak trailed off disappointedly.
He had to accept his master's word. Far wiser than his dull self.
"Yes... not enough... need something... something more..."
Dorgo gnawed his finger bones, muttering incessantly.
"I know something's missing, but what? What do we need to destroy the Empire... humanity...?"
After much muttering, Dorgo turned to Genak.
"Right. What about capturing that guy from before?"
"That guy... Demian Haksen?"
"Yeah, him. I want to see him myself."
"A Geras is already mobilizing. We've confirmed his family in Apple Kingdom, so action soon—"
Then, a hole tore in the ceiling again. Iota burst out.
-Mother! Big trouble! Huge trouble!
"I told you, call me Master."
-That's not the point now!
Iota said with a shocked face.
-They're dead!
"What?"
-Dead, I said! Weaponmaster! His disciples! Akilo! All of them!
Dorgo scowled.
"Not in the mood for jokes."
-Not a joke! Real! I brought lingering thoughts—check yourself!
Iota extended a finger. Lingering thoughts condensed at its tip.
Dorgo absorbed them.
Moments later, he ground his teeth.
"Genak, cancel the plan to kidnap Demian Haksen."
"Something wrong?"
"You bet. Some son of a bitch is ruining my plans!"
Dorgo's eyes flashed. Flames roared in his skull.
"Woodchopping Victor! Capture him now! Make him kneel before me!"
* * *
After leaving the Huckmark Mountains, Demian returned to his family home in Apple Kingdom.
"He's gonna be pissed..."
Before entering, Demian couldn't help feeling scared.
He'd been gone especially long this time. Without even a single letter.
His family—especially Father—would surely be furious.
"Ha ha ha! Demian, you're back! So glad to see your face after so long!"
But contrary to Demian's fears, Father wasn't angry at all.
Demian, bewildered, asked Mother,
"Mother, what's going on with him?"
"Oh, well. He became a grandfather this time."
Demian didn't grasp Mother's words at first.
"A grandfather...?"
"Your sister's pregnant."
Shock bloomed on Demian's face.
Mother grinned playfully.
"What're you so surprised for? You're an uncle now."