Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: Interview with the Demon King - 3
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Jenia swallowed hard.
Ophelia... no, Teraname slowly opened her mouth.
It was a cracking voice that suited her appearance.
“Jenia.”
“...”
“Jenia. It’s me. Ophelia.”
“...”
“Help me. Please... keep that hero from killing me.”
It was a desperate plea, but Jenia responded without a second thought.
“Maide won’t kill you. I don’t even need to stop him.”
“...”
“You should surrender right now. Then I’ll have something to say to Maide on your behalf.”
This woman.
I hadn’t expected her to side with me so matter-of-factly.
Feeling a fresh sense of surprise, I looked at Jenia.
That was when Ophelia spoke.
No. It wasn’t Ophelia’s voice.
“It won’t work after all, huh.”
Idria!
She must have connected to one of her minions’ bodies.
Idria continued speaking.
“Fine. Let me introduce myself properly. I am Teraname...”
“Shut up!”
I ground my teeth.
“Teraname? Doesn’t that mean ‘friend’ in spirit language?”
“Oh ho.”
“I’m not talking to you, Ophelia. This is for you, Idria, you bastard.”
“...”
“You turn Jenia’s friend into that and slap a spirit word for ‘friend’ on her? I’m sick to death of your lies and deceptions.”
Idria was watching.
She was listening.
Even before my regression, she had tried communicating with us through her minions.
Though indirect, this was the first time since regressing that I was addressing Idria directly.
I poured out all the rage I’d held toward her until now.
“How much more do you need to toy with humans before you’re satisfied? Wouldn’t it be better if you just fell by my hand quick like the other Demon Kings of the past?”
“So you’ve figured out I can connect through my fingers?”
It wasn’t the cracked voice from before, but a refined, soft one.
And it carried a languid tone somewhere in it.
‘It’s Idria!’
My party members seemed to realize it was her without needing to be told.
Chaang. Tat.
They all drew their weapons and faced her down.
Idria asked through Teraname.
“How did you know? This is the first time I’ve ever shown my minions to the world.”
Of course, instead of answering, I said coldly.
“Demon King shunned by the whole world. Where are you holed up right now?”
“...”
“Tell me the spot, and I’ll rush over as fast as I can. I’ll even bring a gift.”
“Hmm. I’d have to ask my roommate. There’s this guy who’d probably have a fit if he saw you.”
“Kaild?”
“Yeah. It’s not time for us to meet yet. But we can have indirect chats like this anytime. I’ve had a lot of questions for you anyway.”
Swoosh.
Suddenly, the ground where Teraname stood writhed.
A moment later, it exploded massively.
-Ku-goo-goo-kwang!
Several buildings around collapsed pitifully.
“Uwaaak!”
“It’s a monster!”
“What the hell is that hideous thing...”
The ground hadn’t actually exploded.
A massive worm buried underground had simply risen up.
‘That worm?’
It was on a whole other level from the millions of ordinary bugs Teraname controlled.
I recalled Teraname perched on that worm’s shoulder before my regression, looking down on us.
‘Hellname.’
Thud. Thump.
The worm planted its eight legs into the earth.
Just that alone made our bodies feel lightly lifted.
“It’s... bigger than the buildings.”
“Everyone, prepare for battle. Dealing with that thing will be quite the ordeal.”
That was when I said it.
From atop Hellname’s shoulder, Teraname... no, Idria’s voice echoed through her borrowed mouth.
“Maide. Follow me.”
“What?”
“I request a private audience with you. One-on-one, of course.”
“Can’t I just kill this worm first?”
“Are you worried your oh-so-great party members can’t handle a single bug? Then you’ve assembled some pretty worthless comrades.”
Her words made my blood boil.
Idria flew up into the sky, convinced I’d follow.
Then, Neril patted my back with a light tap.
“Go. We’ll take this guy down and catch up.”
“It’s too dangerous.”
“That’s what I should be saying.”
“...”
“This is the first time Demon King Idria has shown herself before us. We need to squeeze as much info out of her as possible here.”
Neril was right.
But Hellname had given us hell even before my regression. It was the king of worms.
Could they really handle it without me...
The moment that thought crossed my mind, I realized just how arrogant I’d become.
‘Why did I think they couldn’t?’
My party members were all hero-grade.
Elite of the elite, not inferior to any past hero parties.
I steeled my resolve and said.
“Neril. Cast a flying spell on me.”
“Already did.”
“Thanks. And thank you all.”
My party members chuckled.
“About time I earned my keep.”
“Be careful out there, Maide. We’ll kill this bug and come help right away.”
“Take good care of Ophelia.”
“I summoned Lady Repia’s spirit. It matches well with you, right, bro?”
“How about a bet on who finishes first?”
I chuckled and pulled the Withering Jewel from my pocket.
I tossed it to Neril and said.
“As a show of support.”
“You need that to fight the Demon King.”
“Idria’s borrowing Ophelia’s body, but it’s not her true self descending. She can’t wield more power than what she’s granted her minion.”
“But...”
“It’s fine. A hero beats Demon Kings. No way I lose to one of her lackeys.”
Neril chuckled and gripped the jewel.
“Got it. I’ll put it to good use.”
“Yeah.”
I took a step into the air.
As if climbing invisible stairs, I ascended higher and higher.
Neril’s voice came from behind.
“Everyone, listen up. I’ve got a plan.”
Idria had settled down far from where the king of worms was.
She said.
“Shall we do proper introductions?”
“Introductions are for face-to-face. Show me your true body with that fancy spatial power of yours.”
“That’d be inconvenient. There’s Bion Kunze, and you seem stupidly strong yourself.”
“Guess you’re a more cowardly Demon King than I thought. If you’re this scared now, what’ll you do when the oracle comes down later?”
“Keuk keuk.”
Idria laughed coldly.
Then she dropped a bombshell that made me doubt my ears.
“Maide, as a special secret in hopes you’ll give up, let me tell you something.”
“What?”
“There will be no oracle.”
For a moment, it felt like all the light in the world had gone out.
The Demon King repeated it clearly, as if making sure I heard.
“There is no oracle. Therefore, you will never become a hero.”
“What...”
“So give up already. You’ve done plenty.”
“Shut your bullshit!”
There had been an oracle before my regression, hadn’t there?
True to her name, this Demon King was just trying to deceive me with lies.
But seeing my reaction, Idria calmly continued her explanation.
“You must have heard from Bion Kunze. I’m a very special Demon King. And Bion was a very special hero.”
“...”
“Because we’re special, our battle has to stay completely secret.”
I couldn’t grasp what she meant.
Idria went on.
“I revive endlessly. Lies have filled the world since the beginning of time.”
“I’ve heard that much.”
“Imagine if my battle with Bion became known. The Demon King falls, but soon reappears? No Demon King has ever revived identically before?”
“...”
“You wouldn’t think that?”
What the hell was she going on about?
“What does that have to do with no oracle coming?”
“If a hero chosen by an oracle fails to truly slay the Demon King, it’d be embarrassing.”
“For who?”
“For the one who issued the oracle.”
My heart felt like it stopped.
‘The Heavenly God?’
My usually steady emotions surged.
“So... you’re saying the Heavenly God won’t send an oracle just to save face?”
“That’s right.”
“...”
“That’s why Bion was a hero from birth. Couldn’t risk a flashy oracle.”
...
It didn’t make sense.
Wouldn’t the Heavenly God use every means to protect humanity?
Skipping the oracle over something as petty as face? What nonsense.
‘Trail. Is she telling the truth?’
[At least it’s true no oracle is needed for me.]
‘...’
[But don’t worry. No oracle for me, but one for you is guaranteed. There was one before your regression, right?]
I worked hard to keep my expression neutral.
Then I asked cautiously.
‘She says no oracle for a hero who kills a reviving Demon King. To save face.’
[That’s Idria’s delusion. The Heavenly God wouldn’t stoop that low. If it were that petty, then what was all my suffering for...]
‘...’
[Sigh. Sorry for getting worked up. Anyway, don’t listen to her. Forgot her title?]
Demon King of Lies.
But why?
This time, my gut said the Demon King was speaking ‘truth.’
I said.
‘The pre-regression oracle definitely happened. But it went to Kaild. Doesn’t that strike you as off? Why him of all people?’
[Back then, Kaild had the highest reputation.]
‘...’
[Maide. You listening?]
Yeah.
No.
I stayed silent for a bit.
Then I asked Idria.
“You’re really saying no oracle?”
“Yeah. You’re a real dull one for sounds.”
I shook my head and asked again.
“You’re not planning to fake one yourself?”
Idria’s face stiffened.
Nailed it.
I pressed on.
“You can fake a hero’s sword, a Demon King’s jewel, even human bodies.”
“...”
“What’s faking an oracle? So that was your plan—to cap off ‘Project Fake Hero Kaild’ with a phony oracle.”
“You, you’re...”
“I wondered why Kaild hadn’t shown up this time. Guess he’s busy prepping your fake oracle.”
Idria fell silent.
Meanwhile, Trail cried out in shock in my head.
[Fake oracle? So the pre-regression one was fake too? The Heavenly God really didn’t send one?]
‘Calm down, Trail.’
[...]
‘I get how you feel, but let’s hear Idria’s response first.’
Finally, Idria spoke.
“You really are a freakish existence.”
“Pot calling the kettle.”
“I meant to make you give up, but I just shot myself in the foot. Shouldn’t have requested this audience.”
“...”
“I’ll take my leave. But I’ll leave Teraname. Can’t kill you, but I can dramatically ruin your reputation.”
Before vanishing, Idria glanced behind me and added.
“Bion, take care.”
“...”
“Talking through minions like this really takes no toll on me. I’ll drop by again sometime.”
Her tone shifted slightly from when speaking to me.
Was “friendly” the right word? It almost felt that way.
Bion responded in my head.
[Tell her to get lost.]
“Get lost, she says.”
Idria giggled.
“You’re as heartless as ever.”
Swoosh.
I saw something like black mist leaving Teraname’s body.
It took me a while to calm my jumbled thoughts.
Then, light slowly returned to Teraname’s eyes—that is, old Ophelia’s.
Yeah. Puzzles later.
Right now, someone needed saving.
I raised my sword.
“Ophelia. Can you hear me?”
“...”
“Jenia said you spouted some pretty embarrassing stuff back in the day?”
“...”
“Wondering how you stack up against Adwin. Care to show me once you’re human again?”
Ophelia’s eyes wavered.
She tried to speak.
But Ophelia, turned puppet by Idria’s power, couldn’t make a sound.
Just pained groans and sobs.
“Kuuk. Huuuh.”
Ophelia. Sorry, back before regression.
For not recognizing you.
For not stopping Jenia from killing you.
‘As atonement...’
I assumed my stance.
“I’ll sever Idria’s filthy chains for you.”