◈ Episode 226. You Have No Right
Crystal Hall.
The full view of the Demon King’s Castle floated in midair.
At Hoyeol’s magic, the players felt a sense of déjà vu.
“……
But doesn’t it kind of feel like a movie theater?”
“It’s similar, but no matter what angle you look at it from, you can see it straight on.”
“Simply put, it’s basically a magical livestream, right……?”
But not for the people of Arcana.
It was the appearance of the enemy of the holy war, the Demon King.
It was not a situation where anyone should be laughing.
“Haha…….”
A hollow laugh slipped out.
It was inevitable.
The true value of this magic, which looked simple at first glance,
was clearly visible to Marcelo’s eyes.
The process of interference was so complex that it felt almost pedantic.
Just maintaining the manifestation of magic from such a distance would consume an immense amount of mana. As if that weren’t enough, the projected field of vision was changing from moment to moment.
That meant the processes of search, interference, and manifestation were being repeated every time the view changed.
‘It is to the point that I am ashamed to be called the same chief as him.’
Even Marcelo was left speechless.
There was no need to describe the reactions of the senior and skilled mages.
But that was only the beginning.
The purpose of leaving the tower.
The outdoor demonstration to aid understanding of reversal magic was only just beginning.
Bensch whispered carefully.
“Doesn’t that building look precarious, Senior Bangrit?”
“Yes, it certainly does.”
“Not only fire magic, but no matter which of the twenty schools of magic you applied……”
It would be impossible to perfectly protect a collapsing building.
Even if one conceded that the collapse of the building could be prevented,
there was no magic in the Magic Tower delicate enough to protect the people as well.
But what if it was not existing magic, but new magic?
Soon, the field of vision showed Hoyeol.
No sooner did the jacket draped over his shoulders flutter than mana radiated around him.
Then everything was reversed.
Not only did the collapsing building stand upright again.
“Wh-What is that magic?!”
“Could that be the reversal magic he mentioned……?”
“Wait, it didn’t just stand back up straight. The broken windows, the collapsed outer walls, they’re all being restored to how they were. As if nothing had ever happened……!”
“The lights that went out are coming back on!”
Even the feelings of those watching were reversed.
A quiet shock flowed through the Crystal Hall.
There was no longer any concern.
Not only had the Holy War Allied Forces sortied, Hoyeol had also joined them.
A mere Demon King would not be able to stand against them.
“It is absurd beyond belief.”
“How many interference processes were carried out in that single instant?”
“I won’t be able to imitate it……”
“But I think I can understand the concept to some degree.”
That was right.
The shock that flowed through them was solely due to the demonstration of reversal magic.
Chief, seniors, skilled mages, apprentices.
It was the moment when every mage of the Magic Tower was caught in the lingering afterglow of the symposium.
Only one cat.
Only the Tower Master harbored a different emotion.
Its tail stood stiffly upright, as if tense.
‘……
Claudi.’
Question marks never ceased in the Tower Master’s mind.
During the time I was trapped in the cone hat,
what on earth had been happening on the Arcana Continent?
How dare that name come from a demon’s mouth?
How could a mere demon dig up a past that no one should ever uncover……?
The Tower Master shuddered.
‘In any case. You are pitifully foolish, demon.’
*
The main gate opened.
A great army poured out from the Demon King’s Castle.
The building restored through reversal magic.
Even the last survivors had finished evacuating safely.
Yes, from now on was the true beginning of the holy war.
Harkon spoke in a solemn voice.
“Commander-in-Chief, please give your orders.”
……
You really do keep public and private matters separate, Harkon!
In any case, I was the Commander-in-Chief of the Holy War Allied Forces.
In an official setting, he couldn’t casually call me Sir Hoyeol. Of course, I, who was listening, felt so burdened I could die!
Click—
However, this treatment was excessive enough.
Grandfell shamelessly enjoyed all sorts of flowery rhetoric.
Naturally, I advanced to the very front without hesitation.
And calmly declared.
“I will take charge of the Demon King.”
If I were being honest about how I truly felt,
I wanted to just pour magic down and blow away the Demon King’s Castle and the Demon King in one shot.
With the effect of [Natural Enemy Relationship] raising my combat power severalfold right now, I was confident I could manifest even the super-high-level magic Meteor Strike.
But.
“I will leave the rest, excluding the Demon King, to you.”
As I said, I am aware of it.
My position as Commander-in-Chief of the Holy War Allied Forces.
If understanding the abilities of my allies, trusting them, and helping them gain experience in actual battle was also part of the Commander-in-Chief’s duties, then it was work.
‘……
How is it that no matter where I go, the work never ends?’
For a moment, a sigh almost escaped me, but I held it in.
Besides, there was a more important reason than that.
No matter what, I couldn’t just blow everything away without warning.
‘Claudi.’
My name……
No, that name.
Where and how had he heard it and come to know it?
I had to interrogate him thoroughly!
I made it a rule not to exchange words with demons.
But this time was an exception.
My life was at stake. Death by shame was at stake.
“I will obey your command.”
Clack—
“Everyone, prepare to charge!”
As Harkon raised his sword and shouted, the morale of the allied forces soared to its peak.
Watching that sight,
it seemed my efforts all this time had not been in vain after all.
‘Compared to the old days, anyway.’
The greatest reason players had been helpless against demons was because of status abnormalities.
Among status abnormalities, [Fear] had the most vicious effect.
However, even before the Demon King, the players showed no sign of being terrified.
That was right.
Because an emotion that could render even fear meaningless
existed within their hearts.
[A small change occurs due to the effect of Sublime.]
“At last, it is time to prove our pride!”
Yes, pride.
I realized it anew.
You really have dyed them all in your colors, Grandfell.
‘In that sense, I must bear a grave responsibility.’
Without delay, I manifested a portal.
The coordinates were right in front of the master of the Demon King’s Castle, Demon King Andras.
If asked how I could specify such precise coordinates,
I would present my class as the answer.
[Demon Hunter]
It was not possible because I knew the coordinates.
I was merely following the scent.
The scent of the prey that had recklessly blurted out my dark history.
I advanced into the manifested portal.
It is time for you to take responsibility for that loose mouth of yours, Andras.
...
The Demon King, Andras.
Andras looked at the unfamiliar scenery.
The owl’s beak moved.
“Unbelievable, Great Evil.”
It was neither the Arcana Continent nor the Demon Realm.
It was a completely different world he did not know.
He could guess.
“Has this throne been swept up in a rift?”
Just as the Zero Mountains had vanished from the Arcana Continent overnight, it seemed that he and the Demon King’s Castle had also been swept up in a rift.
Had he not realized from the revival of Akshan that there was no such thing as absolute?
If it was simple coincidence, he could accept it as much as needed.
Unexpected events could always occur.
But this was not coincidence.
“Claudi……”
The name that the Great Evil, Gluttony, had told him.
The moment he uttered that name.
The moment he dug up the past.
His field of vision had changed.
Andras realized it.
What sort of past was tied to that name
for merely mentioning it to cause such ripples?
“It seems something beyond words is intertwined with it.”
The owl’s head twisted at a right angle.
“And for that very reason, it must surely be the truth.”
If one could survive after facing the truth of Claudi,
one could obtain power equivalent to the Demon Kings of the Ten Thrones.
Andras rose from his throne.
“This throne has confidence.”
The 63rd Demon King.
But rank was nothing more than a number.
As he had told Gluttony, Andras had reached his limit.
Put another way, it also meant he had grown strong to the very limit.
The reason he had been able to grow stronger was simple.
As he had also said,
this throne had piled mountains with corpses and made rivers flow with blood.
The proof was his confrontation with Gluttony.
If it had been his past self, he would not have been able to utter a proper word before a Great Evil. However, his current self had reached the point of striking a deal with Gluttony. He had stood on equal footing with a Great Evil under heaven.
‘And if I survive.’
Andras’s pupils flashed.
Gluttony.
He could grasp the power to butcher that insolent bastard.
Andras smiled sinisterly.
“Run wild. Shout. Dig up the past.”
Claudi.
Burn your desires toward that name.
My soldiers.
“I shall lead you.”
It was the moment Andras lifted his iron mace and was about to take a step.
Goooo—
A cluster of light rippled in midair.
It was unmistakably mana.
Andras’s owl head bent again at a right angle.
“How curious.”
Did this world also contain mana?
If not, did it mean this was a being who had crossed over from the Arcana Continent just like him? Well, it did not matter either way. If someone appeared before this throne, then they surely had business with him.
Andras opened his beak.
“What is your name?”
No answer came.
“!”
But he could tell.
Shrrr—
Because the feathers on his owl head stood on end instinctively.
‘……
Who is this?’
A sensation he had never felt in the Demon Realm or on the Arcana Continent.
Andras felt a sense of incongruity.
Like an owl symbolizing wisdom, he realized it.
That the unfamiliar sensation he felt was “fear.”
‘This throne maintained composure even before a Great Evil.’
And yet this throne is trembling in fear……?
Andras realized it.
There was only one being who could make him feel fear.
“……
Demon Hunter.”
He was surely the final survivor of Akshan.
Andras immediately raised his iron mace.
And once more, he recalled his desire.
‘This throne’s objective is Claudi.’
To reach that objective, he would not hesitate to use any means or methods.
Andras, I am the Demon King of Conflict.
When it came to discord and incitement, no one could match him.
Andras shouted.
“How foolish. Final survivor of Akshan. To try to hunt this throne without warning. Even if you hunt me down, this battle is my victory.”
The main gate of the Demon King’s Castle had opened.
It had been quite some time since he had ordered the demon legion commanders to advance.
By now, they should have begun massacring the vicinity.
As if that weren’t enough, including the demon legion commanders,
every demon would surely be crying out Claudi’s name.
“Can you not hear it as well?”
Claudi—
Even at this moment, he could faintly hear the monstrous cries.
Andras resolved to endure until the end.
By merely uttering the name Claudi, he had reached another world.
It was only a matter of time before another upheaval arrived.
‘Why?’
But something was strange.
The final survivor of Akshan, who should have shown some kind of reaction, did not open his mouth. Soon, only an ominous silence lingered in the Demon King’s Castle…….
‘……
Silence?’
No, that was impossible.
Had he not said it only moments ago?
That his soldiers would cry out Claudi’s name.
That they would dig up the past.
Then why?
It was quiet.
No voices could be heard.
‘There are as many as seventy thousand.’
Those seventy thousand soldiers were all elite troops who had survived countless real battles.
Had they faced a mighty enemy even they could not overcome? No, even so, it made no sense.
Not even screams could be heard.
That was right.
As if everyone had shut their mouths.
Gulp—
It was the moment Andras unconsciously swallowed dryly.
The final survivor of Akshan opened his mouth.
A cold voice rang out.
“I have no intention of discussing etiquette with an inferior race.”
“……?”
“Because you are beings who do not even possess the qualifications to learn.”
……
What nonsense is he suddenly spouting?
Andras rolled his eyes and pondered.
Then he realized.
‘I see. Did this throne get in his way?’
He had no way of knowing what he had interfered with.
However, this was an undeniable opportunity.
It seemed there was room for conversation.
It was the moment Andras tried to open his beak.
“However, that does not mean I will overlook it.”
“……!”
Andras’s beak stopped just like that.
It was not because he was surprised by the following words.
Andras clutched his own throat.
His voice would not come out.
Only then did he realize
why the Demon King’s Castle had suddenly been enveloped in silence.
‘He stole seventy thousand voices in an instant……?’
It was his doing.
The moment Andras realized it, he witnessed it.
The final survivor of Akshan.
The alien energy surging from him.
And he was horrified.
“!”
What in the world was it?
That energy that seemed capable of suffocating even him, a Demon King……?
A darkness that felt as though it would erode him just by looking at it.
Even all the negative energy he had accumulated as a Demon King until now
seemed unable to become even a grain of sand before that endlessly deep darkness.
But the surprise only began from there.
The final survivor of Akshan.
Because at Hoyeol’s next words, Andras realized it.
“I did not permit it.”
“……?”
“Do not dare to recklessly utter that name.”
“……!”
“Mongrel.”
……
He did not permit it?
‘No, no, surely……!!’
As expected of a wise owl, he realized it.
The final survivor of Akshan.
The fact that he himself was Claudi……!
...
Judging by his expression, it seemed he had realized it.
If so, how unfortunate.
I don’t know about anything else, but that truth is something I have no intention of letting anyone discover!
Therefore.
“As of this moment, I will begin your disposal.”
It means don’t even think about returning alive, Demon King.