“If we brainwash these guys and extract only my skills, we can split the synthesis workload, right?”
[That is correct.]
[I have devised a helpful system based on the dark magics Marionette and Mind Control. I believe I can handle the operation myself.]
Akashic cut in.
“You can do this too?”
Akashic’s utility kept growing ever wider.
[…….]
[As the outcome aligns with the Akashic Cabinet’s purpose, operation is possible.]
“That was a slow answer.”
[Therefore, I intend to draw on the two dark magics to brainwash—or rather, dominate the minds of the demon race who will become sacrifices—turning them into factory robot arms that do nothing but use skills.]
“…….”
This Akashic guy was more extreme than I’d expected.
“Works fine for me.”
[First, brainwashing is necessary. For the rest, we only need to extract the Administrator’s skills.]
[For your reference, brainwashing is fast via Hong Ichan.]
“Ichan!”
He immediately called out to Hong Ichan.
“What! I’m busy! I’m tying up the prisoners!”
Hong Ichan was using shadows to bind the struggling demons.
“Get over here!”
“I told you I’m busy.”
He struck the struggling Minotaur on the head.
“Urk!”
The bull thudded to the ground.
Hong Ichan quickly ran over.
“What is it?”
“Can you dominate them?”
“Huh? The living ones? Come on. How is that possible?”
Hong Ichan waved his hand, saying it was impossible.
[It is possible.]
[The demon race binds and dominates one another’s souls through the act of contract. However, when there is a substantial difference in rank, domination is simply possible.]
“But he’s not a demon.”
[He is a direct upgrade.]
“……?”
Sin Hyeok quietly said to Hong Ichan, who was making an ambiguous expression.
“Akashic says it’s possible.”
“Come on, what does a system know? It’s not like a Dark Elf is a demon. It’s definitely a bit ambiguous, but contracts are something only demons can do.”
[It is possible. Demons are not the administrators of all contracts. They merely borrow the authority of the World Tree of Night.]
Akashic stated firmly.
[All order of Night is fulfilled within Notdrasil.]
“It says it works?”
“Come on, hyung! I told you it can’t, why do you keep doing this?”
Hong Ichan’s eyes trembled slightly.
After glancing around nervously, he began to quietly step back.
“Y-you! Hey! All right! Catch them all!”
At Sin Hyeok’s words, Namgung Jincheon immediately stepped forward.
*Swish.*
A black flash passed, and Hong Ichan was seized mid-stride.
“Sigh…….”
With both hands and feet raised in surrender, Hong Ichan dropped his head.
“Hyung, do we really have to do that? There’s plenty of other ways.”
[It is the most efficient method.]
“We could at least recruit another Demon King…….”
[That is inefficient.]
At Akashic’s reply, which rang out for all to hear, Hong Ichan choked up.
“Hey, what do you know!”
[I speak based on recorded and collected data.]
“Damn it, seriously!”
[Please proceed immediately.]
“That’s why I’m saying, not me!”
Seeing Hong Ichan’s eyes trembling like an aspen tree, Sin Hyeok held him back for the moment.
“Akashic, stop. Yeah, I got it. Let’s find another way for now.”
[Understood.]
At Sin Hyeok’s words, Namgung Jincheon lightly set Hong Ichan down.
Ichan glanced around at his surroundings, turned around, and immediately fled toward the World Tree.
“That rascal again, again…….”
Baek Arin glared at Ichan with a fierce expression, but on the other hand, she detected the fear dwelling within him.
“Arin. Stay here. I’ll go check on him.”
“Okay.”
Sin Hyeok had also sensed that inner turmoil, so he couldn’t just leave him be.
After waiting a moment, he headed toward the World Tree.
But he couldn’t see Ichan around the World Tree.
“Surely he didn’t climb the tree?”
Sin Hyeok looked up at the World Tree.
“Wow, it’s tall.”
He grabbed the branches and began climbing up one by one.
“Hey! Who climbs this thing! It’s just ornamental!”
A shout came from above.
“It is not! Plenty of Dark Elves lived in the branches!”
Sin Hyeok climbed toward the voice.
“Seriously. It’s ridiculously high. Did you want to climb up here?”
Climbing while holding a branch, he saw Hong Ichan biting his fingernails.
“That’s because you’re old, hyung. How high can it be?”
Seeing Ichan filled with anxiety, Sin Hyeok took out a snack he had been saving from his inventory.
“Hey, want some cola?”
Ichan’s eyes went wide at the sight of the cola.
“Urk……!”
*Swish.*
Ichan immediately snatched the cola from Sin Hyeok’s hand.
“When did you get that?”
“I’m a scout, after all. I hoard this stuff one by one. I was saving it. Having just one is awkward—hard to give away and weird to drink alone.”
Ichan glanced at Sin Hyeok for a moment, then opened the lid.
*Pop! Fssshhhh.*
Clear carbonation sounds accompanied the bubbles flowing out.
Ichan hurriedly took a sip and handed it over.
“Here.”
“Thanks.”
Sin Hyeok also took a sip with him.
“Kkugh.”
“Krrrgh.”
It flowed down their throats, and both furrowed their brows at the intense carbonation rising up.
“Kgugh.”
“Burp.”
They both naturally burped.
They giggled as they looked at each other.
“Ew! The smell! You ate potatoes this morning!”
“So did you, you jerk!”
Ichan leaned his back comfortably against the branch.
“Hyung, I—”
Sin Hyeok cut him off.
“I didn’t come to ask you for a favor. I just came to see if you were okay.”
“…….”
Ichan quietly drew his knees in.
“You know me too well.”
Then he buried his face in his knees.
As if he wanted to hide somewhere.
“Sigh. Brat, when are you going to grow up?”
Sin Hyeok patted Hong Ichan’s shoulder.
“…In 241 years.”
“Stop lying.”
“Kekeup.”
Ichan made a crying face before breaking into a smile.
After some time exchanging such empty words, suddenly Ichan spoke in a serious voice.
“Hyung.”
Ichan, who had buried his face in his knees, slowly turned his head.
“What.”
“Actually, I’m not a Dark Elf.”
Sin Hyeok recalled the class that had appeared on his status window.
‘Moon Elf.’
He had remembered it well because of the unique name.
“Moon Elf or whatever?”
“…….”
Ichan made a sulky expression.
“You’re not supposed to say it before I do.”
“So what? I can see it, what do you want me to do?”
“Ah, you’re so annoying. The truth is, that…….”
[A Moon Elf refers to a direct descendant born from the World Tree of Night, a being created in a form similar to elves, rather than from a seed, on rare occasions.]
“…….”
The mood was completely ruined by Akashic’s savage trolling.
With an angry face, Hong Ichan pointed his finger at the system.
“You be quiet! I was going to say it!”
[Furthermore, it is said that they are born as the legitimate heir of Night and fated to dominate all demons.]
“Hey! I told you I was going to say it!”
[Therefore, the birth of a Moon Elf is regarded with caution by all demons.]
“Haaa. Fine. You say it all, you tin can.”
Sulking, Ichan abruptly turned his head away in a huff.
“Hey, you really…….”
[?]
Akashic projected a question mark into the air, as if to say, “Did I do something wrong?”
“I got it. So that’s what our Ichan is.”
“Hyung, I’m not a kid. I’m older than you.”
“Oh my, is that so, our venerable elder?”
“Go! Get down!”
Ichan swatted at Sin Hyeok with his hand.
“Kekekekeup.”
Laughing, Sin Hyeok fell from the branch.
[Magic Synthesis — Wind]
A fierce wind blew, but he regained his balance and grabbed the branch.
Then Sin Hyeok spoke casually.
“Come down when you feel better. I won’t make you do the Demon King thing.”
Hong Ichan poked his face out, watching Sin Hyeok descend the World Tree.
“Again…….”
Sin Hyeok paused briefly at his voice coming from above.
“Again, if they all die. Because of me, again! Every single one.”
“Hey, why are you worried about something like that?”
Ichan momentarily calmed at his nonchalant attempt to comfort him.
“There are plenty of idiots trying to kill us even without you. It’s not because of you—they’d die because of all of us.”
“…….”
Hong Ichan realized where Akashic’s savage trolling had come from.
“Hyung, is that supposed to be comfort?”
“Of course?”
“Haaa. Fine. I’ll do it. I’ll do it!”
“I said it’s fine? We don’t need to.”
“No, I’m telling you I’ll do it!”
Ichan actually lashed out instead.
Sin Hyeok was dumbfounded by that sight.
“Hey, I’m trying to comfort you. Why are you freaking out?”
“That’s comfort?! And you! Akashic, you shut up too!”
It provoked anger instead of comfort.
[Tsk.]
“That’s what I’m saying. Anyway, elves are so damn finicky.”
“It’s not an elf thing, you’re just weird, hyung! Who comforts someone like that!”
Sin Hyeok, having come down from the tree, spoke to Baek Arin, who had been waiting below.
“Comforting over. He says he’ll do it himself.”
“Don’t call it comforting! I was just being teased by Akashic, that’s all!”
Baek Arin snickered at the sight of them and placed her hand on Hong Ichan’s head as he landed on the ground.
“Yeah. This noona gets how you feel. Must’ve really sucked.”
“Right! That’s what I’m saying. Anyway, that human……!”
Hong Ichan was momentarily moved by Baek Arin’s gently placed hand on his head.
But when he soon felt her playfully messing up his hair, his mood instantly soured.
“Get your hand off…….”
Baek Arin was holding back the laughter threatening to burst from her lips.
“Off!”
“Huhahahahahaha!”
In the end, Baek Arin burst into laughter.
Hong Ichan clenched his fist tight and threw a swift punch.
Naturally, Baek Arin lightly evaded with a backstep, too busy laughing.
“Huehehehehe!”
“You’re the worst!”
“This is killing me. He said he was being teased by Akashic! Hahahaha!”
The hearty laughter of the female general filled the surroundings.
His face completely red, Hong Ichan stomped around in a fit with her for a good while before collapsing.
“Haa, haa. Seriously…… you guys! Human scum! Haa.”
“Haha. I haven’t laughed like this in a while.”
Baek Arin ruffled the collapsed Hong Ichan’s hair once more and ran away.
“Hey! Get back here! Hey!”
“Oho! Where do you think you’re going after doing this to your noona!”
“Who’s your noona! Hey!”
Sin Hyeok reached out his hand to the fuming Ichan.
“Get up already. There’s a lot of dirt on the ground.”
“Haaa.”
Ichan rose with a deep sigh.
“Do you need anything?”
“No. No. I need one thing.”
“What?”
“Mental preparation.”
Sin Hyeok smiled and went to bring the prisoners.
“Then I’ll go get the prisoners. You’ll do it right away, right?”
“Yeah…….”
Hong Ichan looked up at the World Tree and muttered.
“Father, it ended up like this after all.”
The branch gently swayed.
……A single leaf fell and stuck to Ichan’s forehead.
He picked up the fallen leaf and fell into thought for a moment.
“Does this mean I shouldn’t worry?”
The World Tree didn’t say much else.
Ichan approached the World Tree and embraced it.
The World Tree had now grown thick enough that it was difficult to hug alone.
“I miss everyone. Mom and friends too.”
Ichan reminisced about the old days.
“…Kraah! Let go! I said let go!”
Ichan turned his body at the captive’s shout coming from behind.
“Good. If I can’t avoid it, I have to enjoy it. Then I’ll be back.”
“Let go! What are you planning to do!”
A vampire was being dragged over.
Ichan raised his arm.
Then the branches binding the vampire smoothly unwound.
“L-let go! Wh-what! What are……!?”
The tree eerily coiled through the air.
“It won’t take long.”
Immediately, the Yamyo Soul Art curled around the vampire according to Ichan’s will.
“P-please……!”
Feeling something strange, the vampire struggled, only to be cut by the Yamyo Soul Art, causing blood to trickle down.
The vampire trembled violently at the increasingly bizarre situation and begged for his life.
Unshaken by the begging, Hong Ichan’s eyes turned pitch black.
Soon, stars stacked densely within them, and white dots scattered across like falling snow.
“Swear to me.”
“Wh-what!”
“That you will devote even your soul to me.”
The Yamyo Soul Art tightened around the vampire.
“Kraaah! I got it! I understand! So please!”
As the vampire assented, he collapsed with a thud and fainted.
His soul flowed out into the empty air and enveloped Hong Ichan.
[The Legitimate Heir of Night, the Primordial Demon King, is born.]
The system widely announced the birth of the true Demon King.
[The legitimate heir of the divine authority governing Night has appeared.]
Ghosts and spirits gushed out from the World Tree of Night like waves.
“Everyone, move away a little!”
Sin Hyeok hurriedly took control of the people.
Ichan’s consciousness grew hazy, and swarms of specters surrounded him.
[The Moon Elf’s coming-of-age ceremony begins.]
“Wow, this is so flashy……!”
Sin Hyeok found it difficult to move against the waves of specters completely filling the surroundings.
* * *
All demons were summoned to the Hall of Myriad Demons.
Dantalian and Andras shouted, veins bulging, at everyone.
“He’s not just some kid! He swept through everything in an instant!”
“That’s right! Look at our sorry state! We got completely wiped out!”
Lucifer maintained a blank expression, while the other demons sneered.
“Kwahahaha! Hey, that’s because you’re weak!”
Tremble, tremble.
Furious at the jeers thrown from around them, but unable to say anything.
“Silence. Astaroth, why have you not come?”
The voice of the sole demon who had not attended the grand assembly of the Hall of Myriad Demons rang out.
—Shut up! I’ll snap that bastard’s neck! He demolished my castle and escaped! Kraaaah!
All demons snickered at Astaroth’s outburst.
“Tsk.”
Only Lucifer realized the seriousness of the situation.
“At this rate, we’ll all be devoured. Rally all forces at once.”
“Hey Lucifer! Why should we step in for a mere human……!”
At that moment, they could feel it.
They could feel something that should not exist.
A pause.
All demons’ bodies froze simultaneously.
And a crack formed in Lucifer’s expressionless face.
Everyone simultaneously stared outside the Hall of Myriad Demons.
“N-Night…… is coming.”
Dantalian said unconsciously as he looked outside the Hall of Myriad Demons.
“Th-the Night of the Demon Realm has descended……!”
Andras muttered, trembling.
Lucifer formed a sardonic smile.
“So he wasn’t an ordinary human whelp after all.”
He rose from his seat.
Then his pitch-black wings flapped.
“I will change the order. All demons and Demon Kings are to advance to the Realm of Ruin.”
Anxiousness kept welling up in Lucifer.
The situation he had firmly believed in as certainty was crumbling.
“Damn it. They said they burned it all! Paimon! The Moon Elf survived!”