Chapter 272
Chapter 272
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 272
Chapter Title: Devil Worshipper (1)
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The Tart Kingdom was a nation located at the edge of the continent.
Its territory was fairly expansive, but its national power was not particularly strong. Bordering the sea, it was famous for its abundant, high-quality seafood.
It was an incredibly distant kingdom from the Apple Kingdom. It would take more than a month to travel there.
But things were different with the Five Great Saints in tow.
Demian was moving at tremendous speed, riding the wind. It felt just like sitting on a magic carpet made of wind.
Demian gazed out at the passing scenery while seated atop the wind.
Even with his dynamic vision, the landscapes blurred by too quickly to make out properly.
It was the result of Radiance's holy reinforcement layered atop Green Wind's gale.
"At this speed, we'll arrive in the Tart Kingdom in just a few minutes."
Green Wind said to the group.
She showed no signs of strain despite manipulating a wind current of such magnitude.
It was the prowess befitting one of the Five Great Saints.
"Then we should brief Sir Demian on the way. It might be too late once we arrive."
Radiance turned to Demian and continued.
"Sir Demian, our top priority is destroying the summoning circle. Only then can we..."
"Reverse-summon the demon."
Radiance's eyes widened slightly at Demian's response.
"Oh? How did you know?"
"I've read literature on demons before."
It was actually a lie. The reason Demian knew about demons was due to memories from his past life.
Dorgo was probably the only being in this world who knew more about demons than Demian.
"If you already know, then no need for further explanation."
Demons were lifeforms that dwelled not on the earthly plane, but in hell.
As beings from an entirely different dimension, they faced numerous restrictions upon being summoned to the surface world. Thus, demons were extremely weak right after summoning.
The only way to lift those restrictions was for the demon to devour human souls.
That was why black mages continued kidnapping humans and offering them as sacrifices even after summoning a demon.
The greatest restriction a summoned demon faced on the surface was being bound to the summoning circle.
If the circle was even slightly damaged, the demon would be reverse-summoned back to hell.
"It sounds simple in words, but... it won't be easy. This demon summoning incident is far from ordinary."
Azure Flame, hailed as the strongest among the Five Great Saints, had gone missing.
It was utterly incomprehensible when considering Azure Flame's power and prestige.
"I've heard the Church assesses it as a marquis-rank demon."
"Correct. Nothing short of that could put Elder Azure Flame in peril."
Demian agreed with Radiance's words.
With Azure Flame's skill, even the true body of a count-rank demon could be felled with ease.
"What I can't understand is... how Pandemonium managed to prepare a summoning circle of this scale without anyone noticing."
Demian naturally thought of Dorgo.
Dorgo had spent ages preparing to annihilate humanity.
Such a Dorgo could undoubtedly prepare a ritual of this magnitude in short order.
'But why?'
The problem was he couldn't fathom the reason for such a choice.
In his past life, Dorgo hadn't relied on demons. His arrogant nature led him to overconfident in his own abilities.
Moreover, Dorgo had little interest in demons. He showed no obsession with the graces or powers bestowed by them.
'Could it be because I killed the Weapon Master?'
The Weapon Master's greatest advantage was wielding over dozens of demon swords.
A demon sword was akin to a demon's avatar. In essence, the Weapon Master could wield demonic powers without limit.
Even during the War of Annihilation, the Weapon Master had been deployed as a sort of joker card.
'The Weapon Master is dead. All the demon swords destroyed. Pandemonium currently has no one who can freely wield demonic powers. If that's why they summoned a demon...?'
It was then, as Demian pondered, that Green Wind spoke to Radiance.
"Sis, we've entered Tart Kingdom airspace. This is Pandemonium territory from here on."
No sooner had Green Wind spoken than the stench of burning and blood assaulted them from all sides.
Demian's expression hardened instinctively. There was only one thing these smells could mean.
'Black mages are raiding villages to gather sacrifices.'
Demian clenched his fist without realizing it. But now was not the time for rage.
They needed to destroy the summoning circle as quickly as possible to reverse-summon the demon.
"We'll reach the summoning circle soon. Everyone, prepare..."
At that moment, something snagged at Demian's senses. He reflexively stood up.
"What's wrong?"
Green Wind asked with a puzzled look. Just then, a flash of light erupted in the distance.
A red beam shot straight toward them. Demian swung Dawn to cleave it.
But the instant Dawn collided with the beam, he knew he had to change plans.
'Won't be able to cut it cleanly.'
He was standing atop the wind right now. With unstable footing, he couldn't swing Dawn properly.
Demian twisted Dawn to deflect the beam's trajectory instead. The beam shot high into the sky.
The group stared in shock at where the beam had vanished. Agnes was the first to recover, asking Demian.
"Sir Demian! That just now was..."
"Seems the demon isn't thrilled about our arrival."
No sooner had he spoken than another flash erupted. Another red beam came flying.
"Sir Demian, fall back."
This time, Radiance stepped forward. She summoned holy power to form a shield of light.
The shield blocked the red beam. But the beam pierced through the shield all too easily.
As the beam closed in on Radiance after penetrating the shield,
Demian swiftly interposed himself and batted it away. The beam plunged into the ground.
"No way... even at a hundredfold reinforcement?"
As Radiance muttered in shock,
Flashes erupted ceaselessly once more—not just one, but several at once.
Red beams rained down without respite. Demian deflected them with Dawn as he said.
"Green Wind, let's land here."
"We're still far from the summoning circle. You're handling them fine, so if we just keep going..."
"I'm only managing because they're going easy on us from over there. If the number increases, even I can't hold."
On solid ground, maybe—but atop the wind, Demian couldn't bring his full strength to bear.
"...Got it."
Green Wind altered the wind's direction. The straight-flying gale turned downward.
The four landed in the middle of a forest. The beams stopped coming.
Demian stared in the direction the beams had originated from and muttered.
"Stopped? Decided to go easy?"
It didn't sit well with him.
The demon was treating Demian like a plaything.
"I'll repay this debt soon enough."
* * *
-Ho... to block all my beams.
A man atop the magic tower peered outside and muttered.
-I didn't mean to kill, but it wasn't half-hearted either... Humans these days are something else. Don't you think, Dorgo?
The man turned and asked. Dorgo glared at him with displeasure.
"...Why were you the one summoned?"
-Hm? How about saying you're thrilled honestly? It's like digging for silver and striking gold.
"Bullshit. As if you demons would do anyone a favor."
At Dorgo's words, the man flashed a crooked smile.
-Dorgo, talking like you're one of us outsiders. Aren't you the same as us? Just a minor traitor issue...
"Enough. I didn't draw that grueling summoning circle to rehash ancient history."
-You're so prickly. Can't you chat a bit with an old kin you haven't seen in ages?
"Brat."
Dorgo's eyes gleamed murderously.
"Look at you, a mere fledgling without even a title back in my heyday, all grown up."
-True, you're older than me... but judge by current standing. A fallen lich like you.
Killing intent seeped from the man as well.
The two glared at each other in standoff. Soon, the man shrugged and backed off.
-If that's the summoner's will, no choice. So, state your desire. Why summon me?
"I want the essence infused with a marquis-rank demon's power."
The man's eyes narrowed at that.
"Essence" was the power demons possessed. It was a higher concept than black mana.
-Demonic essence is like an elixir to black mages. But someone of your caliber wouldn't summon me just to waste it like that. Especially not with this much strain.
The man spread his arms wide. The magic circle drawn across the entire plain revealed itself.
Its scale was immense, but more astonishing were the materials.
The circle was etched entirely in magic stones and gem dust. At the center lay thousands of piled hearts.
"No need for you to know that much."
-I can't help being curious...
"Just answer. Will you honor the contract?"
The man clapped his hands.
-Since you've given me a glimpse of the world after so long, I can grant that much.
With that, the man grinned wickedly.
* * *
"Everyone all right? No injuries?"
Radiance checked on the group. They all nodded to indicate they were fine.
"Whew, no idea where we are. Green Wind, where's the summoning circle?"
"Straight southwest."
"Everyone hear that? Shall we move out?"
"Where do you think you're going?"
Then, an unfamiliar man's voice rang out.
Turning toward the sound, they saw men clad in rags.
They weren't dressed that way because they were beggars. Their grotesquely twisted limbs had ruined their clothes.
The men's limbs were black as if dipped in ink. And all were hideously mutated.
One man had disproportionately massive arms. Another had a beast's head in place of an arm.
"...Devil worshippers."
Agnes muttered with venom.
Black mages didn't worship or revere demons. They saw them merely as trading partners.
Devil worshippers were different. They were scum who gained immense power in exchange for becoming demons' slaves.
"Perfect timing. We were short on sacrifices, and they drop from the sky."
The man who seemed like the leader bared his teeth in a grin. His left arm, mutated into a centipede, clicked.
"You idiots, don't just stand there—grab them."
The men surrounded the four. Radiance smiled and said.
"Oh my, such brave souls. To block our path like this."
"Sis, that's not it. They don't seem to know who we are."
"Oh, surely not."
"Entirely possible. Would these worthless grunts ever get a chance to see our faces?"
"Hm... makes sense."
Demian drew Dawn. Radiance extended a hand to stop him.
"You handled it last time, Sir Demian. Rest this round."
As Radiance stepped forward, the men were all dumbstruck. Her beauty had that effect.
"Th-this face is too good to sacrifice."
"Boss, let's keep this woman aside. The other three are plenty."
Radiance pointed downward and said.
"You know? They say the ground has a pull on things."
At her words, the devil worshippers exchanged glances.
"Pretty face, but is her head a bit off?"
"What a drag. No fun breaking ones like that..."
Radiance invoked her holy power. Dazzling light burst forth from her center.
"Shall we try a light hundredfold?"
No sooner had she spoken than the devil worshippers' bodies sank sharply downward.
Crunch.
Their legs and lower bodies were crushed.