◈ Episode 392. They Cannot Stop Us (1)
──────The Ten Thrones rule the Demon Realm. In the Demon Realm under their rule, no one can look up at the sky. Because in the Demon Realm crushed beneath that weight, no one can retain their sanity.
──────I could let Buer pass since I had passed out and couldn't remember. But the memory of Gamigin's manifestation was still vivid.
Gamigin—it wasn't an existence that could be expressed in words.
It didn't scatter blood like other demons, nor did it threaten humans.
Gamigin was a being that made all creation feel an awe surpassing fear simply by appearing, without even sowing terror.
‘The Demon Realm is those bastards' home turf.’
And eight of those bastards still remained.
In the Demon Realm, you couldn't even dare to look up at the sky.
It seemed no exaggeration to say you couldn't keep your sanity either.
──────It is not a lowly emotion called fear. The Ten Thrones cannot be measured by emotion. They completely dominate the mental realm of the Demon Realm. The reason the creatures of the Demon Realm wander in vain, their minds lost and only their bodies remaining, is precisely because of that.
──────Perhaps the existence of such Ten Thrones was exactly…
…the reason the demonkin could rule the Demon Realm?
As if my guess was correct.
Swish.
As the page turned, Discus's purpose was revealed.
──────But the Demon Kings, at least those bastards were different. I am not talking about the Ten Thrones. Even the 72 Thrones, even the fakes, could be free from the Ten Thrones. Just by occupying a hollow throne, they could escape the mental domination of the Ten Thrones.
──────Nowadays Raymond Shun, that bastard deleted all Demon Kings except the Ten Thrones with a regular update, but… it seems at the time Discus wrote this, they were alive and well.
‘I guarantee it. Discus is much stronger than your average Demon King.’
But how could the Demon Kings remain sane?
‘Well, from the Demon Realm's perspective, it would be a mystery.’
It could be interpreted from the perspective of the Arcana Continent lore.
Probably the Demon King's throne had a buff or trait attached allowing escape from the Ten Thrones' mental domination. It was only natural when I thought of how the war for the Demon King's throne unfolded.
‘Even if the Ten Thrones and the rest are like heaven and earth apart.’
They were still the same kings, in equal positions where they could point blades at each other. So it was a fairly fair rule. Then doubt was inevitable.
A Lich, neither a Demon King nor a demonic monster.
How did Discus maintain his sanity in the Demon Realm?
And leave behind writing like this?
──────But I, Discus the ruler of the undead, shall not surrender. I shall deceive the Ten Thrones by dominating death. I possess countless bodies made of bone. As long as my spirit does not surrender, I shall never surrender to the Ten Thrones……!
──────Truly, a solution befitting a Lich.
Slap─I closed the book around there.
After that was written the reason Discus came to aim for the throne.
Because I could guess without reading.
‘He must have been reaching his limit. Desperately holding out in the Demon Realm too.’
But since 62 thrones excluding the Ten Thrones had been deleted. To win freedom. To survive. He must have had no choice but to drag out the weakest of the Ten Thrones, Buer.
‘Anyway, thanks to that I gained valuable information.’
Truly, it was the Demon Realm (魔界).
Seeing it in writing alone, it was no trifling matter. Let's see, from the perspective of the Arcana Continent lore, it meant you'd suffer tremendous debuffs just by stepping foot inside.
‘A debuff greater than the top-tier status abnormality Fear.’
Since it wasn't a status abnormality of the Arcana Continent.
Whether the effect of [Blessing of the First World Tree] would be valid was unknown.
Needless to say about the effect of [The Last Adventurer].
Worry came first, but around then I recalled the Holy War Allied Forces' plan. Because I might have to revise the plan to invade the Demon Realm from the start.
The Great Alliance had declared so.
-"Even if it's a deathtrap, we will follow you, Commander Hoyeol."
They would bet their lives.
I didn't think the pride of the Holy War Allied Forces would break easily. But at the same time, I was someone who knew the power of the Ten Thrones.
Could players like Nam Taemin endure the mental domination of the Ten Thrones by force, by guts, by pride?
‘I'm not trying to belittle them.’
The life-and-death struggle against the corrupted Yunaxus.
In that struggle, I witnessed their sincerity.
Because I acknowledged them as comrades.
I couldn't make an easy judgment.
‘From the start, even I can't be certain what will happen to me.’
My gaze turned to the status window.
[Title: Master of the Ten Thrones]
According to Discus's information, I should be fine in the Demon Realm.
Because I had occupied Buer's Ten Throne, not just any throne.
Since I am a Demon King after all.
It meant I should be fine from the mental domination of the Ten Thrones.
But the problem was my mental state.
Strictly speaking… ‘Because Grandfell is here.’
I posed a question to myself.
It would be nice if both of us could sit on the Ten Throne.
What if by any chance we can't?
Who is sitting on that throne, I Hoyeol or Grandfell?
I Hoyeol or Grandfell.
If even one of our spirits
gets ejected from the body?
‘That'd be utterly fucked, well.’
Thinking as positively as possible, it's liberation from my dark past.
Assuming the worst, there was more than enough possibility that my spirit, I Hoyeol's, would be dominated by a Demon King of the Ten Thrones.
‘Of course, it's not like I have nothing to rely on.’
That's right, even if Grandfell's spirit disappeared, I was the demons' natural enemy, [Demon Hunter].
And that too, the last survivor of Arcshah nearing level one thousand (一千).
That was the reason I could speak so calmly.
To Hiel's report, I muttered.
"Not bad news."
Alright, let's think even more positively.
Let's fire up the so-called happy circuit.
I Hoyeol and Grandfell get separated?
To be honest, as long as I, I Hoyeol, am fine.
‘Would our esteemed Grandfell face some great disaster just because I'm gone?’
The reason I can be certain is simple.
Look at the war achievements Grandfell accomplished in the [Blackening] state.
If the separated Grandfell could run rampant in the Demon Realm?
‘The Holy War Allied Forces listening might feel slighted, but…’
The Holy War Allied Forces might not need to enter the Demon Realm as a group.
However, as I said, the problem is whether I, separated from Grandfell, can endure in the Demon Realm.
‘You're still weak, Hoyeol.’
I can't just blindly trust the natural enemy relationship effect. If the natural enemy relationship were invincible, our Arcshah seniors would never have fallen into hell.
So I made a serious judgment.
‘In the end, it means I have to get stronger.’
If I, I Hoyeol, grow.
I might be able to achieve results beyond expectations in the Demon Realm. Perhaps, I might even get the happy ending of being liberated from my dark past.
Then what I must do is clear.
Growth of [Throughout Heaven and Earth, I Alone Am the Honored One] through [Understanding of Darkness].
A skill effect that manifests Grandfell's prime abilities.
I wondered if I could use it even while separated from Grandfell's spirit, but if there was a possibility, I had to try.
Even if it was a dud, wouldn't I be able to witness the secret arts of the Claudi family in Grandfell's past?
‘I can't miss the top-tier spacetime quest either.’
Quest rewards.
You can purchase items with spacetime gold coins.
If Grandfell is a stork, I Hoyeol is a crow tit.
Well, my crotch was already torn a long time ago, but…….
I Hoyeol's strength lies in desperately using whatever there is.
Let's focus on perfectly utilizing every hole I've dug to survive.
Only after I finished my thoughts did I raise my head.
"……."
The AAU Branch Chiefs' General Meeting Room.
Several people who had been making intimidated expressions from the start were standing up from their seats.
It seemed they had finally decided to confess. They weren't the only ones waiting for my answer.
Flutter─Hiel's flowing hems tickled my vision.
Discus had revived from Behemoth's maw.
Hiel, who had delivered the message, kept his head bowed and was waiting only for my command.
‘It certainly feels like a revival.’
But it isn't a revival. According to what was written in the Necronomicon, it must be a new body Discus had prepared to avoid the Ten Thrones' mental domination.
In short. ‘It's nothing more than Discus's shell.’
I answered Hiel.
"Tell them there is nothing to worry about."
With conviction.
"For you all will prove more than capable of hunting it."
Discus. It was a powerful monster that had survived even in the Demon Realm occupied by the Ten Thrones. You could guess that strength just from seeing that it made me, who had broken through the level 900 wall, rise by the level-up limit of 50 levels at once.
Thus, even if it's nothing more than a shell without a mind, its level won't be easily guessed.
‘Actually, the simplest method would be…….’
Open a portal to the Arcana Continent right now.
And hunt Discus's shell myself.
Since EXP and levels are always welcome.
But. ‘I have things to do right now.’
I looked at the hushed branch chiefs' room.
Crack.
I released [『Absolute Zero』].
Was it because time had started flowing?
The expressions of the branch chiefs changing every moment were clearly visible.
The most detestable among them were those who had risen from their seats.
‘Still can't find a shred of pride.’
I suppose their hearts were different entering the bathroom than leaving it.
They were simply expressions of immense regret.
What kind of words would Grandfell have spewed seeing such wretched appearances?
‘He definitely wouldn't have said anything nice.’
But I endured.
I kept my mouth firmly shut.
Because I wanted to give them a last chance.
So I took out the Demon King's spoils from my inventory.
[Demonic Eye's Telescope]
An item that shares vision with the Demonic Eye floating above the Arcana Continent. Befitting a Demon King's spoils, its effect was alien and its appearance grotesque.
Perhaps because the authority of me, a Demon King of the Ten Thrones, was layered over it.
"……Hic!"
They seemed to mistake that I would devour them.
Reactions as if under that delusion.
But I was a Demon King, not the King of Demons.
Besides, how picky do you think Grandfell's palate is?
I would never dream of doing such a thing.
Don't get any wrong ideas. ‘Delusions are plenty enough as is.’
Before I could even swallow the sigh building inside me.
Swoosh.
Soon, the Demonic Eye's Telescope opened its eye.
The scenery of the Arcana Continent rose in the air.
To be exact.
"W-wait! That airship is……?"
"The Iron Castle. Isn't it the dwarves' decisive weapon?"
"Wait, a battle is taking place on the ground!!"
Behemoth's maw. The desperate struggle of the Holy War Allied Forces against Discus's body was displayed.
Yes, letting the world know about the Holy War Allied Forces' life-risking bloody battle.
"Watch closely."
That was the duty I had to carry out as the Commander of the Holy War Allied Forces at this moment. At the same time, my goal was to make these damned traitors realize pride through their battle.
The branch chiefs grasped the situation.
"Nam Taemin, Hisagi, Leoni, Skal……. The Great Alliance is engaging in close combat at the forefront! And the dwarves!"
"What monster is the opponent?"
"By that appearance……. It certainly looks like a Lich."
But I didn't appreciate the fuss.
I knew their resolve.
Thanks to that damned Grandfell-style way of speaking, no doubt. ‘They charged in without even knowing it's a shell.’
Even though they judged that Discus had revived.
Even though they had experienced Discus's absurd strength.
At my single word that they could surely do it.
The Holy War Allied Forces were risking their lives fighting.
They were my comrades.
So I opened my mouth with a cold voice.
"Do not act rashly."
"……?"
"Do not regard their desperate battle as mere entertainment."
"……!"
"There is only one reason I showed you the battle situation."
Flap─I opened the inventory.
Throwing the jacket of dawn over my shoulder.
I added a final warning.
"Because this is the last mercy I bestow."
"……!!!"