Chapter 12
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Superior Model
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Drip. Drip drip.
The blood dripping from my palm didn't fall to the floor. Instead, defying gravity, it surged upward into the air, forming a black sphere.
"Watch closely. This is a real demon summon."
I clenched and unclenched my hand lightly, and the black sphere flattened out, sketching a massive door in midair.
It was on another level from the ragged, torn dimensional rift that bastard had created. A perfect circle, like it had been drawn with a compass.
Uuuung...
The moment the door creaked open, the clamor of the battlefield vanished. No—all sound was swallowed whole.
The sky turned pitch black in an instant, and an oppressive weight that made even breathing difficult crushed down on the tent. Duke Kane had already passed out, while Balsak trembled violently, blood streaming from his nose and ears.
The demon Balsak had summoned—the Flame Tracker that had been flaunting its majesty just moments ago—began shuddering like a leaf in the wind.
It knew instinctively. The entity emerging from that door was one it couldn't even dare to meet eyes with.
Thud. Thud.
Heavy footsteps echoed from beyond the door. And soon, a giant clad in jet-black armor revealed itself.
A blue glow seeped from the slits of its black helmet. A tattered cloak fluttered like shadows behind its back, and in its hand, it dragged a greatsword as thick as a man's torso.
The Flame Tracker screamed and flattened itself to the ground. It was the absolute hierarchy of the demon realm kicking in.
"A mere lowly beast dares to block my path. How insolent."
The giant glared down at Balsak's summoned demon like it was a bug. Then it turned its head, as if searching for whoever had called it forth.
Its gaze passed over Balsak and landed on me, standing there with my arms crossed.
"....."
"........"
"......Huh?"
A dumb noise leaked from the giant's mouth. Its eyes shifted from my face to my black coat, then to the Demon Sword Levatein at my waist.
The corners of its mouth twitched. The arrogant, dignified expression it had worn just seconds ago twisted into one of utter subservience in an instant. The eyes inside the helmet darted around in panic, lost for where to look.
"B-big bro?"
"Long time no see? You been well? I'm making good use of that demon sword you gifted me."
Of course, "gifted" my ass—it was spoils of war I'd taken after beating the crap out of him.
"Hiiik?!"
The former 30th-ranked demon of the demon realm, Belial, let out a shriek like he'd seen a ghost.
"N-no! Why's big bro here?! And you've gotten younger... Didn't you ascend 500 years ago?! You logged out or whatever and left...!"
"Yeah, I did leave. But I came back. My descendants must've missed me so much they reverse-summoned me. Even in my younger state."
I took a step forward. Belial hunched his massive frame and backpedaled.
"What, got a problem? Your face looks sour."
"Lies!! No way!! This can't be!!"
Belial clutched his head and wailed.
"Hoo... Cheered?"
My eyebrow twitched.
"You guys really had a field day, huh? Must've been real happy without us around? Wanna pay a visit and put on a fireworks show? Those legion commanders won't be there anyway."
"N-no, sir! Th-that's not it...! It was a memorial... no, a send-off party out of longing for you! Misunderstanding!"
Belial stammered as he kept retreating.
500 years ago, the guy had been our party's loyal exp shuttle and sparring partner—our number one sandbag, called out whenever we were bored to hone our combat skills.
Demons are utterly loyal to strength. The loyalty beaten into him, flesh and bone separating, had no expiration date.
I smirked and gave Belial's shin a light kick.
"Attention."
"Sir, yes sir! Loyalty!"
The massive demon reflexively snapped to attention, saluting sharply.
At that bizarre sight, Balsak and the Flame Tracker nearby stood frozen like statues, mouths agape.
They couldn't make sense of it. A high-ranking demon groveling like a dog before a human.
I pointed my finger at the red bastard nearby.
"Hey, Belial."
"Yes, sir! Big bro! Just give the word! Who's first on the kill list?!"
"You see that red monkey punk over there?"
"Yes, sir! Lowly mongrel!"
"That little shit called me a bug. Said I was snack food. Guess they don't know me?"
In that instant, Belial's demeanor shifted drastically. The fawning subservience he'd shown me vanished, replaced by a horrific killing intent that seemed to tear the space apart, filling the tent.
He slowly turned his head to glare down at the Flame Tracker, cowering on the ground.
Black flames roared in Belial's hand.
"Kiieee!!"
The red demon screamed and scrambled backward, but Belial's massive fist clamped around its skull.
Crack.
The sound of its cranium fracturing rang out. I watched the scene with satisfaction and spoke up.
"Sacrifices are these two here. And outside, there's about fifteen black mages or so."
I grinned.
"That enough?"
"More than enough! Big bro!"
I flashed the kindest smile I could muster and continued.
"Execute."
"Exe-cuuuute!!!!!!"
Belial bellowed as he yanked out his massive sword.
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Stepping out of the tent, dusk was falling amid the acrid smoke.
"......"
The battlefield was eerily quiet. The rebel soldiers, having witnessed their command structure get devoured by a demon in real time, had already lost all will to fight. They'd dropped their weapons and were plastered flat to the ground.
'Just wipe 'em out...'
The thought flickered through my mind for a moment, but I shook my head. These guys were mostly conscripts dragged into this by orders from above. Slaughtering breadwinners just trying to eat wasn't my style.
Besides, cleaning up the bodies would be a pain.
'Why not just flip the whole thing and take over?'
A cheeky idea suddenly crossed my mind. The emperor was a total incompetent rice-waster, the nobles were corrupt enough to sell out the country, and look at the state of the empire.
Just grab these rebels by the scruff, rally them, march straight on the capital, wipe out the royals, and crown myself emperor?
I had more than enough raw power for it, after all.
'......Nah, bad plan.'
I clicked my tongue and shelved the thought. My goal was getting back to my original world—not hunkering down here to play emperor.
And above all...
'That cranky old elf hag's the real problem.'
Erendel, up in the northern snow mountains. The human-hating grump would grab her staff and teleport over the second she heard I'd staged a coup, smashing my face in.
'You've fallen, Kasian! Worse than a beast! Taste my Meteor!' Just thinking about it tired me out.
"Ugh, life."
I shook off the idle thoughts and dragged the duke toward the castle gate.
At the gate, Princess Elicia, the guard captain, and the remaining soldiers stood around in a daze. Their expressions weren't much different from the rebels'. A bizarre mix of shock, terror, and relief.
"Lord Kasian...?"
Elicia called out to me in a trembling voice. Instead of answering, I tossed the duke at her feet like a sack.
"Here ya go. Defense Minister."
"Th-this... Duke Kane?!"
"Captured him. He's out cold, so tie him up. Cleaned out the black mages and that red monkey inside nice and tidy."
I shrugged and jerked my chin toward the prostrated rebels.
"Handle the rest yourselves. Accept their surrender, sell 'em off to the mines as slaves, chop heads for show—whatever. It's the winner's prerogative now."
Elicia alternated between the dirt-smeared duke on the ground and me, strolling casually as if nothing had happened.
Her face screamed disbelief. Just a day ago, this massive rebellion had pushed the empire to the brink of ruin. And now, one man had force-shutdown it in half a day.
At this point, the emptiness probably hit harder than relief.
'We almost got wiped by trash like this?'
How far had the empire's defenses fallen? The national defense I'd protected reduced to toilet paper. The more I thought about it, the gloomier it got.
"You really... really are..."
Tears welled up in Elicia's eyes. Overwhelmed with emotion, she clasped her hands and gazed up at me.
"Save the emotions for later. What I need right now isn’t tears."
"Pardon?"
"Think catching the rebels fixes everything? What about after? Post-war processing, reparations, noble purges, wall repairs, food rations, and the royals' accountability for letting this happen."
I pointed toward the palace.
"Bet the emperor's desk is buried under a mountain of backlog. Even pulling an all-nighter won't clear it."
"Ah..."
"And princess, you need some education too."
"Education?"
I stepped closer and locked eyes with her.
"How long you gonna keep sniffling and begging others to save you?"
"......!"
"I'm a fixer, not your nanny. What happens when I leave? Another rebellion pops up—you gonna dig up my grave and wake me?"
My words struck bone; Elicia bit her lip.
"Cut the crying. Alexander said it: A leader doesn't bow their head—they make others bow theirs."
I nodded at the duke sprawled on the ground.
"Wake that bastard and interrogate him. Squeeze out every backer, every hidden fund. That's your first job today."
I turned on my heel and headed into the castle.
"Get to work, princess. Gotta earn your keep, right?"
Behind me, I heard Elicia wipe her tears. Moments later, a voice rang out—far firmer than before.
"Soldiers, hear me! Bind the criminal Duke Kane and drag him to the underground dungeon!"
The corner of my mouth tugged up. Yeah, she'll toughen up if you roll her right.
I set off toward the palace.
The day was drawing to a close.
What a filthy long-ass day.