Chapter 87. < 35. Ryan Promheart's Dignity (2) >
Kirikokokoro was diligent. Though his personality was abrasive and violent, he was a true demon who did everything in his power for his lord.
That was why he worked even harder than the researchers below him, repeating research and experiments without even a moment's rest. It was tremendous concentration.
However, his subordinates kept interrupting his work.
*Click*
"Um, Lord Kirikokokoro."
"What is it? I'm busy, so make it short."
"The three mid-level demons we sent to eliminate the intruder haven't reported back. It seems they've been dealt with."
"Then just send more. Handle it yourself."
"Yes, sir. We'll send ten mid-level demons."
"Go."
The demon who finished his report bowed his head and left.
Kirikokokoro clicked his tongue. To think they couldn't even catch some brat. If he weren't so busy, he would have flipped everything upside down.
But a short while later, a subordinate came to report again.
*Click*
"Um... Lord Kirikokokoro..."
"What now!"
"Well, the ten mid-level demons also failed..."
"Then send someone stronger! Get any idle high-level demon! Tell them I ordered it!"
"Yes, sir. There happens to be a high-level demon named Kantusas with some free time..."
"Fine, go quickly."
"Understood."
The subordinate finished his greeting and left again.
This time too, Kirikokokoro held back his anger.
Something felt good. It seemed like the research results would be favorable this time.
He didn't want to waste this opportunity punishing his stupid subordinates. He focused his eyes again to concentrate on the experiment.
But today didn't seem to be the day.
Less than five minutes after the subordinate left to report, he appeared again.
Finally exploding, Kirikokokoro erupted with volcano-like fury.
"No! Why again! Why! Why! Don't tell me they still haven't caught him?"
"Th-that's... correct."
"You said he was just a brat! Under twenty years old! And they still haven't caught him? Didn't you say Kantusas went personally earlier?"
"That's right. Currently, contact has been cut off..."
"Ah! Fuck! Just die!"
*Fwish-!*
A beam shot from Kirikokokoro's eyes. The subordinate reporting couldn't even scream before dying.
Yet his anger didn't subside. He shouted ferociously.
"Aaaaaah! It's not like a Sword Master came, so why haven't they caught him yet!"
He couldn't understand. He didn't want to understand.
He didn't want his work interrupted any further. Closing his eyes, he used magic to broadcast his words throughout the entire Red Mountain.
- Ah, ah, can you hear me? You vermin? Except for researchers, except for those assigned special missions. From now on, stop all your work completely, search for and eliminate the intruder. The intruder is a human swordsman under twenty years old. After elimination, only one representative should come to the laboratory to report. I'll say it again. Everyone stop your work and find and kill the intruder. Only one representative should report. That is all.
Immediately after the order was issued, it felt like the entire mountain was wriggling.
The high-level demons under his command, sensing Kirikokokoro's wrath, lifted their heavy buttocks and rose.
Finally satisfied, he smiled comfortably.
Now it was done. Even if that kid happened to be a Sword Expert, he wouldn't be able to survive against over thirty high-level demons and hundreds of demons.
'He'll probably run around like a rat and get torn apart miserably.'
Kirikokokoro nodded and drank the liquid in his glass. It was a beverage made from human blood.
Sipping it, he accelerated his research again to achieve meaningful results.
Thirty minutes passed, an hour passed, two hours passed.
Finally finishing one experiment, Kirikokokoro exhaled deeply and stood up from his seat.
It was a success. It was effective. When he administered the newly created drug to a low-level demon, its strength greatly increased for about twenty minutes.
"His body exploded afterward, but that's not bad either? Could be used for suicide attacks. Good. It'll be useful in wars of attrition."
He smiled with satisfaction.
How nice would it be if every day had results like today!
Thinking such thoughts while stretching, suddenly a thought he had forgotten crossed his mind.
'Still no report?'
That couldn't be right.
No, that shouldn't be right. No matter how large the mountain was, there were so many moving demons. Over thirty high-level demons, and they still haven't dealt with the intruder?
"What the hell, this is really unsettling!"
He felt a chill. Kirikokokoro shot up from his seat.
Since he hated having his concentration broken and had completely isolated the interior from the exterior, he had to go outside the laboratory to grasp the situation. He threw the door open.
Immediately after, a massive explosion sound reached his ears.
*Kuquaquaquaquaquabang!*
*Puuung! Pubububang!*
*Kiyaaaaak-! Kruaaaaak!*
"......!"
It was absolute chaos.
His subordinates' screams were unending. Even among them, the voices of subordinates he had quite favored were mixed in. They were capable ones who could walk with their heads high even in the Demon Realm.
And yet, even while attacking in swarms, they weren't gaining the upper hand?
'No, that's not the feeling! They're just running away unilaterally!'
*Grind!*
Kirikokokoro ground his teeth hard.
The anger he had suppressed exploded again. His body color, which had been blue, turned yellow, then orange, and finally red like blood.
*Thump!*
*Kwang! Kwakwang! Kuwakwang!*
Stomping his foot heavily, he charged toward the source of the sound. He smashed everything in his way, whether trees or buildings, paying no attention to obstacles.
'To create such a disaster before my lord arrives! I'll definitely kill him!'
His killing intent and demonic energy filled the sky.
***
"Heheheh! Young human, how did you enter through the gap in the barrier..."
*Ziiiiing-!*
*Seugeogeok!*
"Gueaaaak!"
He slew three mid-level demons in a single blow.
Lumian, having withdrawn his aura, quietly climbed the mountain.
"Kuhehahaha! You! You seem to have some skill for your age! However, you can't handle ten of us..."
*Jijijijiing-!*
*Seugeogeogeok!*
"Kuaaaaaak!"
He disposed of ten mid-level demons at once as well.
Lumian, having withdrawn his aura, walked steadily up the mountain.
Not long after, a high-level demon appeared, bursting into maniacal laughter.
It was at a similar level to the Incubus he had faced in the Kalad Territory.
This time, he killed it quickly before it could even speak.
*Sseugeok!*
*Thump! Derureul...*
"Don't come one at a time. I'd prefer it if you all attacked at once."
That would save time and be better.
Perhaps hearing Lumian's muttering, before long, at least three hundred demons appeared before him.
One who looked like their leader spoke up.
"You! You've built considerable skill. I'll give you that."
"......."
"But today is your last day. Don't hope for an easy death! I'll give you the maximum pain a human can feel, so look forward to it!"
Lumian grinned.
Things became easier. It seemed most of the demons had gathered here.
Of course, there would still be some keeping their posts, but he could deal with them by going there directly.
'I was worried they might scatter and run away, but I'm relieved.'
He put strength into the hand holding his sword.
Regardless, the demons chatted excitedly among themselves.
"What's with that guy. Is he crazy?"
"Seems like it."
"Heehee, let's just pluck his head and make a chimera!"
"Peel off his face skin separately. I want to make an interesting mask."
It was an atmosphere of expecting certain victory, no, not even caring about victory or defeat.
But the moment Lumian raised his sword high and drew out an Aura Sword, they couldn't help but wear startled expressions as if struck by lightning.
'What is that?'
'Aura Sword? For real?'
'Am I dreaming?'
'That's an Aura Sword made by a human kid?'
Everyone's mouths fell open. Everyone's expressions hardened. Yet not one of them properly accepted the current situation.
It was too enormous for that.
It couldn't be helped. The completed Aura Sword rising thirteen meters into the sky was so lacking in reality it seemed like something from myth.
*Hwik*
Lumian moved his wrist.
The sword, which had been held vertically, instantly pointed to the right side of the demon army.
Then it was swung powerfully.
It was as fast as lightning.
*Kuquaquaquaquaquakwang!*
*Pupepepepepepepeng!*
The power was even greater.
The demons exposed to Lumian's sword strike were erased along with the landscape.
They were torn apart like leather bags bursting, scattered, and burned. Not a trace remained. Only the demon stones of the high-level demons sparkled in their places.
"Huh..."
"......!"
The demons fell into chaos.
They were alive not because of their skill. It was because of luck.
Because they were on the outskirts of the group, because they were outside the range of Lumian's swung Aura Sword, they could survive.
Of course, the result would be the same.
Lumian exhaled briefly and rushed at the remaining demons with the speed of light.
"Eugh, ughaaaaah!"
"Run!"
"Fuck! Ughaaaaah!"
Most fled, a few remained. They had lost their minds. They turned to dust by Lumian's sword.
Naturally, those who fled were no exception.
There were some quite agile ones, but not enough to escape Lumian's senses.
After a brief time passed, he was able to dispose of all the demons who had come to meet him.
Even those who hadn't revealed themselves were no exception.
Like a general hunting down deserters, he thoroughly searched the entire mountain and destroyed everything regardless of whether it was facilities or demons.
"Hah, satisfying."
Lumian smiled brightly.
Unlike always living hiding his abilities, today he could reveal his power to his heart's content. Showing off his divine prowess from his past life after a long time, he felt refreshed.
He turned his head. At the end of his gaze, a newly appeared demon stood.
A bald demon in a white coat.
His entire body was red like blood. Demonic energy stronger than all the demons he had dealt with combined could be felt.
'This one must be the leader. Hot energy...'
Lumian erased his expression.
Then the atmosphere changed completely. His disposition also changed.
Unlike the fiery previous manner, he was calm like water. It even felt slightly chilly.
It was a choice to subdue an opponent with fire attributes.
Kirikokokoro spoke to him.
"What exactly are you?"
"Never seen a Sword Master before?"
"...I've heard rumors that someone like you exists, but never seen one."
"I don't know anyone like you either. Since we both don't know each other, shall we get acquainted starting now?"
Lumian raised his sword.
No aura was overlaid. But it didn't matter.
He planned to display it at the most appropriate timing, coinciding with the moment the fellow moved, along with a thrust.
'I have a lot to ask, so I shouldn't kill him.'
He thought of various questions in his head. The fellow seemed to be thinking too, and silence flowed between them.
But this didn't last long.
The first to speak was the master of the Red Mountain, Kirikokokoro.
"Do you know?"
"...Know what?"
"How much effort I've poured in until now to create territory in this place, to contribute to my lord's great cause."
Lumian shook his head.
He wasn't curious at all.
He was only full of thoughts about subduing the fellow and extracting information.
'If he doesn't attack first, I will.'
Just as he was contemplating a preemptive strike, the fellow, who had been quietly reciting words, started shouting violently as if going berserk.
"Do you know how important a fighting force those you eliminated were! They were troops who would extract the brains of over hundreds of infants and burst the hearts of over thousands of maidens! They were troops who would trample tens of thousands of young men and dye the world with terror!"
"......."
"Valuable chaos was promised, great destruction was destined!"
Kirikokokoro continued rambling.
He spat saliva, and eventually blood. It seemed he had chewed the inside of his mouth, unable to contain his anger.
Thus the fellow continued speaking for quite a while. His anger didn't subside, and his intensity only increased.
He asked in a voice ready to burst.
"Do you know! How glorious and beautiful the future I spoke of would have...!"
*Zuzuzuzueung-!*
*Syaahk-*
But Kirikokokoro's words couldn't continue to the end.
Lumian swung his sword. Just once.
The moment the sword, having drawn a U-shape, returned to its scabbard, Kirikokokoro's arms and legs that had been in its path all fell away.
The fellow, realizing this belatedly, screamed in agony.
"K-kueuuuuaaaa..."
"I don't know about glorious and beautiful, but I know roughly."
Lumian walked steadily. The fellow was still screaming.
He continued speaking.
"Just how dog-like the future you desire is. I've always imagined it."
Lumian closed his eyes.
It was true. In his past life, he always lived with the worst future in his head.
Imagining himself falling, his lord collapsing, Zenas crumbling.
The golden dawn leaving the world, Rhodesia perishing, Cairo reaching ruin. And eventually, the entire continent falling into the Demon King's grasp.
'It's truly terrible. So terrible I never want to think about it.'
That was why he thought about it every day.
To whip himself. To strive harder. To do his utmost to prevent such a future.
Lumian, recalling his past resolve after a long time, opened his eyes with a flash.
A spine-chilling voice escaped his lips.
"Has a new Demon King been born?"
"......."
"I'll ask again. Has a new Demon King been born?"
Kirikokokoro didn't answer.
No, he couldn't.
His mouth wouldn't open at all. Pressed by a presence like a mountain, he couldn't take any action or think any thought.
Lumian realized this belatedly.
Recognizing he had been too excited, he reduced his imposing manner.
Then he looked at the other with a much softer expression.
That face was so terrifying. Kirikokokoro thought this moment was a nightmare and desperately prayed to wake from the dream quickly.
And that wish was granted.
*Puuwak!*
His head exploded.
Lumian was startled and stepped back.
It wasn't something he had done. He frowned.
'Suicide, perhaps.'
It seemed likely. He thought it was a vicious fellow.
'His loyalty seemed tremendous too... Come to think of it, he mentioned a lord.'
Lumian crossed his arms. And closed his eyes.
In that posture, he thought of various possibilities.
His appearance, deeply lost in thought, looked extremely solemn.
And behind him, far away, a single black eye secretly revealed itself.
***
Far from the Red Mountain, there was a building.
It was where the real power of the continent's greatest criminal organization, Red Moon, resided.
An old man with enough power and authority that even the boss called him elder.
He gazed somewhere with an expressionless face.
"......."
But the atmosphere was quite different from before.
Originally, the old man had no presence. He used to hide his energy so perfectly that it was hard to notice even when standing right beside him.
But not now. From his entire body, intense, sharp, and simultaneously ominous energy was emanating.
That wasn't all.
His eyes had changed too. Eyeballs filled with darkness without a single white part were hard to consider human.
"Amazing."
He opened his mouth.
His voice was strange. It felt like two people speaking at the same time.
But he paid it no mind and continued muttering to himself.
"Neither the Knight King nor the Golden Dawn... yet he possesses such skill?"