Chapter 61
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Bystander
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Myohail posed an unexpected question.
I paused for a moment before opening my mouth.
I know the gist of it.
Oh? Thats rather surprising.
Up to now, only two Demon Kings had appeared in this world.
The first Demon King was defeated by the Hero and his companions. The second was taken down by a coalition of heroes from around the world, led by the legendary hero Alonso Izarkhel.
These were events from time immemorial.
Even so, they were still passed down among the imperial citizens through fairy tales and legends.
Of course, most of those stories focused solely on the Heroes and heroes, not the Demon Kings.
That made Myohails question all the more peculiar.
Myohail fiddled with his whiskers as he spoke.
History doesnt remember Demon Kings. It only recalls the feats of Heroes and heroes.
Historys always been like that.
Indeed. History is written by the victors, after all. Heh heh.
It was hard to read a cats emotions, but I imagined Myohail was wearing a bitter expression right now.
Considering his age, hed probably seen those two Demon Kings firsthand, along with the Heroes and heroes.
Perhaps Myohail knew truths that history had forgotten.
Truths that must have been painful, no doubt.
People always prefer blissful lies over painful truths, after all.
A Demon King is one who rebels against the gods. In other words, a sinner who defies the worlds divine order. Thats why theyre also called the enemies of the world.
Youre awfully chatty today, Myohail.
I cut him off there.
I didnt like beating around the bush.
If you have something to say, just say it.
Oh dear. This old cats gone on too long with his ramblings. Heh heh heh. As expected, youre quick on the uptake. Its nothing much, just one thing I wanted to ask the Count
Myohails eyes looked up at me.
Once again, I couldnt read his expression.
Last time, in the underground treasury, you said something quite interesting.
But the words that came out of his mouth next struck right at my blind spot.
Does that mean the things youre about to do from now on amount to rebellion against the gods?
..
I stood there, staring at Myohail.
The sun had fully set, and darkness enveloped us both.
In that darkness, only Myohails eyes gleamed.
Never had the sharp gaze unique to felines felt so dangerously piercing.
Rebellion against the gods?
You know it well, dont you? Resurrecting the dead defies the divine order. I let it slide as a joke back then, but if youre preparing this earnestly itll be hard to turn a blind eye any longer.
Do I seem like the type to joke around?
Of course not. Heh heh. But it should be a joke.
Myohails paw sliced through the air.
In that instant, the breeze blowing toward me stopped.
I realized Id been trapped in a space created by Myohails magic.
Otherwise, this old cat might have to restrain the Count myself.
I thought you didnt interfere in worldly affairs.
Heh heh. I eat from the imperial trough. I cant very well ignore threats to the imperial family or this nation.
Indeed. So Myohail was on the imperial side, after all.
This was a headache.
Myohail was originally a thorough bystander character.
Even when the protagonist asked for his help in the original story, hed only offer advicenever step in personally.
Thats why I hadnt expected him to get in my way.
Myohail began interrogating me, cornered as I was.
If that wasnt a joke, then you truly intend to break the taboo of bringing back the dead?
But I had no intention of backing down now.
I answered with Pride.
Yes. Their lives are mine. Bringing them back is my prerogative as well.
Arrogant. Heh heh. You fear not the gods?
The face of that bastard in paradise flashed in my mind, and irritation surged through me.
Ive never feared that damned wretch, not once.
Heh.
My utterly irreverent words left even Myohail speechless for a moment.
In this world, gods were objects of worship, portrayed as absolute beings who granted humans magic and mana.
But to me, who knew their true nature, they were nothing but an annoyance.
Much less to Tristan, cursed and mana-lesshed have no reverence for gods.
Myohail quietly spoke.
Do you truly intend to become this eras Demon King, Count?
If necessary, I will.
Even if it means turning the entire world against you?
Yes. If necessary, I will.
.
Myohail fell silent.
A heavy silence settled between us.
I pondered.
If Myohail used magic, my unique traits would be nullified in an instant.
Even ancient Moon Magic was far too lacking against a sage.
Did I have to let myself be captured meekly?
As I agonized, Myohail finally spoke.
Heh heh. As expected of Milliums son, I suppose.
In that moment, I felt the wind again.
Myohail had dispelled the barrier.
At the same time, the suffocating hostility toward me vanished.
And as if nothing had happened, Myohail yawned and said,
I understand what youre thinking, Count. Do as you please from here on.
Youre not going to report to the imperial family?
Heh heh. I fibbed a bit earlier. You were right. I abandoned worldly affairs long ago. What happens to the imperial family or this nation is none of my concern.
Cold words.
I only knew Myohails surface setting. I had no idea what his long life had been like.
But given that he hadnt even appeared when the players invaded, his claim rang true.
This is a secret, but this old cat once destroyed an entire nation in a fit of Wrath. Something even a Demon King might do.
Regret laced his voice in the darkness.
It was a profound sorrow beyond my comprehension.
From that day on, Ive had no lingering attachment to this world. No. Let me correct that. One has arisen recently.
As if recalling something joyful, Myohail chuckled heartily.
Heh heh heh. Recently, I took on a cute disciple. Shes my one attachment. As long as you dont lay a hand on my dear disciple, I dont care what you do.
Youre quite ruthless. Surely your disciple isnt just the one, Wendy.
Eh, Mondris too old and creepy. And that one will find his own way to survive. Hes got a tenacious life forceworlds end or not, hell pull through. Heh heh heh.
Unknowing of the tragedies to come, but I just shook my head, thinking he was hopeless.
He probably wouldnt believe the disasters next year anyway.
Id known from the start it would be a lonely fight.
At least Myohail declaring he wouldnt interfere was a big help.
As I thought, hed been a bystander from the beginning.
You said earlier that history is written by victors. It might be amusing to overwrite this worlds history with that of a Demon King, just once. Heh heh.
If Myohail had a human body, hed probably be wearing the expression of a sage whod seen through the world.
Is that all you wanted to say?
Yes. This old cat must be off. My cute disciples time to feed me. Heh heh heh.
Myohail brushed past me with a light step, slinking toward the mansion like any ordinary cat.
Watching him go, I wondered if hed never intended to stop me in the first place.
Then, his voice came from behind.
Having lived so long, Ive seen many who tried to resurrect the dead. And I know well what became of them.
It was unclear if he was talking to himself or to me.
But the final words were clearly for me.
I hope you meet a different end from theirs.
Yeah.
Im not sure if he heard my reply, but when I turned, Myohail had vanished completely into the darkness.
Guess its time for me to get to work
I stopped in front of a tree by the lake.
It looked like an ordinary tree, but it was actually a magical device.
Similar to the one in the underground treasury, but this one had a designated user from the start.
As I placed my hand on it, the thick trunk swallowed it up.
Before long, the staircase hidden within the tree appeared before my eyes.
Descending the deep steps led me to a space beneath the lake.
Not as vast as the treasury, but a decently spacious room lined with various magic tools.
A sturdy workshop built at great expense.
Here, I could work in secret.
Just then, Albert, spotting me, looked up from his desk.
Oh. The Counts here? Youre late.
Whatve you been up to?
Its been so long since I worked, I was warming up my hands. Drew some runes on a small item for practice. Want to see?
Albert, sans glasses, held out a thin ring.
Made it as a test just a bit ago.
At a glance, it was a plain silver ring.
But up close, it was densely inscribed with tiny runes the size of rice grains.
His mastery was evident from cramming multiple runes into such a small object.
As if reading my thoughts, Albert boasted.
What do you think? Engraved runes and infused a bit of mana. Single-use, but handy in a pinch as a magic tool.
Hm
I nodded and tried slipping the ring onto my finger.
Unfortunately, the size was a tad small and didnt fit.
Seeing that, Albert groaned with a whoops expression.
Ah, damn it, my mistake. Got the size wrong. Ugh. Sorry about that. Ill remake it right away.
No big deal.
Albert, whod been smug moments ago, scratched his head in embarrassment.
Even artisans make mistakes.
As I casually tried handing the ring back, Albert waved it off.
Ah, why not give it to someone? Its perfectly goodsuch a waste.