Demon King Kyuse Descends! (2)

After searching for quite a while, I was able to find a decent spot. Of course, I was extremely tense and scared while searching. I never knew when some wild monster might jump out and kill me.

From what I saw, this middle realm wilderness seemed more dangerous than the demon realm. But honestly, I had never been outside the duchy, so I couldn't say for sure.

Sigh.

Sigh.

Anyway, I immediately began the task of digging a shelter.

"Damn it."

But I didn't have a shovel! The only tool I had was an axe. I did pack a shovel, but it was in my backpack. It was too large to carry in my hand. I had never felt so desperate for a shovel in my life.

Digging with an axe, frankly, was better than using bare hands.

But who the hell fought a war with bare hands! While others were shooting, imagine fighting the war with just an axe!

"Arghhh…!"

It was insanely hard!

But I had no other choice. I didn't have another hiding place. So, I took off my coat, threw it aside, and dug with all my strength.

Swish!

Slash!

"Huff…!"

But that, too, was exhausting. I was alone now, and there was no one to watch my back. Digging while staying alert was incredibly difficult.

I felt so uneasy.

Thud!

While digging, I kept glancing around. At this rate, the work efficiency was too low. Just focusing on digging would take ages to finish the shelter, and I had to keep watch on top of that.

Plop!

"Ah!"

A sudden scream!

"Damn pests!"

It took me a while to get used to the wild beasts suddenly jumping out from the bushes! The shock made my heart feel like it was about to burst…! Seriously! It would be nice if I had just one or two minions during times like this!

Right now, despite being called a Demon King, I literally started at the starting point, and I really had nothing at all.

It was all so pitiful.

Anyways.

After several hours,

I dug while I trembled with anxiety and dripped with sweat.,

"I've dug enough…!"

Finally, I succeeded in digging a pit that was satisfactory enough!

"Good."

Actually, I should have dug more, but the sun was about to set. In this situation, if it got dark, I wouldn't be able to do anything. I would die. The darkness of the forest took away all light.

It was better to secure my place here, even if it was a little uncomfortable. I could bear it for just one day. I could dig more tomorrow.

Shove!

I couldn't get lost in my success for long. I immediately collected long branches and large leaves from the surroundings. With those, I created the roof for my pit.

"Finished."

The entrance required a jump-in concept, but I couldn't do that, so I crawled in normally.

I crawled slowly.

I felt like I had become a snake… As I squeezed my entire body into the narrow pit.

"…!"

Chills.

Chills… enveloped my whole body!

"Oh, ooh…!"

It felt like my joy was about to burst, so I quickly shoved my fist in my mouth! Sounds of emotion flowed out! Right now! Right now, I was inside my hideout! It was so reassuring!

It felt like I was back inside my mother's womb…!

"Yes, this is the place."

This right here was my Demon King's castle, you damned bastards.

Everyone started like this in the beginning. Look. Hadn't I built a proper Demon King's castle? I just had to start from here and progress. I could do it. Today, I found water and dug a pit, didn't I?

Just do it.

It could be done.

Repeating that to myself, I suppressed the creeping anxiety. The joy of success was short-lived. Soon, the outside turned completely dark, and the darkness brought even more fear to me.

…

Being of demonkind, my night vision was better than when I was a human.

That was the only consolation.

"Anyway."

I felt drained. I immediately drank water from my water container. Sigh… Now. I had found a water source. I had a hideout. When the sun rises tomorrow, I should prepare some weapons. I should also make improvements to the pit.

"Being a Demon King, my ass. It'd be lucky if I don't die by tomorrow."

I missed Karuti.

No.

This wasn't the time.

I laid down, then quickly adjusted my posture. It was unbearably uncomfortable due to the narrow space, but I took the most optimal position. After all… I couldn't possibly sleep right away because of my anxiety and tension.

"I should practice my magical powers."

I wanted to practice dark magic while reading the grimoire, but it was too dark now. The only thing I could do naturally was to manipulate magic power in this static position.

The more you used magical power, the more you got a feel for it. Moving and operating the magical power within the body was the same. Consuming and then regenerating magic during this process was the foundation of magical training.

If you repeated it, there were times when your maximum magical power increased. Karuti taught me that, and I had already seen minor improvements.

"Sigh…"

I breathed in and out slowly, focusing inward. I had well-covered the entrance to the pit… But I was still prepared to flee at any moment, reminding myself of the potential danger.

I prepared to flee and kept that thought in my mind.

I circulated my magical power once more.

…

The magical power moved around inside my body. I could feel it. And with its movement, the expended magical power transformed into a minuscule, faint black smoke that seeped out from my skin.

Hssssss.

Due to this smoke, an evil aura of magic filled the narrow pit cave. Although the aura was incredibly faint, its presence around me oddly brought comfort. Was I truly from demonkind if this was all I could manage?

Thus, a day in the middle realm passed by.

"I'm so damn tired."

Anxiety kept me from sleeping properly.

The relentless and ominous imagination of a huge hand suddenly reaching in and snapping my head off haunted me.

And in the dead of night, the echoing, indistinguishable howls felt as though they were consuming my sanity. There's definitely some powerful monster in this wilderness; whether it's a forest or jungle, I was not quite sure.

I was too scared to live because of those creatures. I wonder if Gihyo, who suffered from cinematic horror phobia, felt this way. Truly, the tears of a Demon King.

"But why aren't there any bugs?"

Surprisingly, I couldn't find any insects throughout the night. A forest typically meant bugs. And bugs meant forest, right? Even during my time in the military, when training in the mountains, we were swarmed by insects, especially a ton of mosquitoes.

But not a single one bit me.

Were there no mosquitoes in this middle realm? Although, during my exploration, I did see many flying insects? This was truly strange. Regardless, it was a good thing. As long as I didn't get bitten by mosquitoes, I was fine.

"Could it be that they're not biting because I'm of demonkind?"

"That would be damn awesome."

Being born as demonkind, for the first time in my life, I thought something was damn awesome about it.

"Alright."

Let's get started with today's tasks!

Swish.

I immediately used the water from the bucket to wash my face, then grabbed my hand axe. Today's tasks were simple. Repair the pit and… find something to eat.

"Damn it."

Yesterday, I only drank water.

So, I was starving.

If I was hungry, I couldn't restore my magical power. No matter what, I needed to eat. Although the fruits I gathered yesterday were still in good condition, they were not yet ready to be consumed.

"Hunting."

I needed to go hunting.

"For monsters."

Even just yesterday, while moving about, I spotted numerous small monsters. Creatures that resembled birds with colorful, radiant feathers and crests. And some that looked like lizards the size of puppies.

Whatever the case, let's try hunting first. I would fix the pit later.

Thud thud.

With those thoughts, I moved forward.

Chop!

While progressing, I didn't forget to mark the trees with my hand axe. The surroundings were so dense that even with a day or two of observation, it was impossible to memorize the paths. Markings were essential.

Chop!

Chop!

I was not lying. If someone documented my current appearance, it would surely move the world. I guarantee it, almost 100%. Or, I could even start vlogging right now. Demon King's Vlog. If I uploaded it on YouTube, a million subscribers would be a piece of cake.

A sinister feeling coarse through me.

If I didn't have such thoughts, I wouldn't be able to live out of fear…!

It was while I was making the markings and pushing through the vines.

"…Kekeuk."

Cake? No, it was not!

Whoosh!

Suddenly, after hearing that sound, I swiftly hurled myself towards the bushes and crouched low…! I heard a sound! And clearly, it's from a living creature!

Could it be potential prey?

Or was I the one being hunted?

Extreme choices! So, this day has finally come! Whatever happened today, one of the two would be the end!

"…!"

I gripped my hand axe, scanned the surroundings, and assessed the terrain. I quickly devised an escape plan on the spot. If the odds seemed favorable, I was determined to strike immediately with my axe. With these thoughts, I steeled myself. I had never done this before, but now I must! Absolutely!

Come on.

Come on…!

Thump… Thump!

ThumpThumpThump!

While I scanned the area,

"Kek… Keguk…"

The sound became more distinct.

I listened carefully again.

"Kekeuk… Kuk…"

It was as if…

It sounded like something dying.

Could it be an injured monster?

The sound was soft. No. Just because the voice was soft doesn't guarantee that the monster was small, but for now, it seemed to be staying in one place and made such agonized noises.

"…"

Gulp.

I involuntarily swallowed my saliva.

Should I check it out? Go see what it is?

Take the risk?

"…I have to."

It was all the same anyway. Whether I risked it here or not. Whether I got hunted and died. Whether I couldn't hunt and starve to death. If I couldn't beat hunger and eat poison and die, it was all the same. I had nothing. Absolutely nothing. For someone like me, who had nothing, being overly cautious and predictable wouldn't do anything. I had to take risks and make bold choices for any progress to happen.

So, I should check it out.

Swiftly.

Slowly.

Very slowly, I moved my steps.

Towards the source of the sound.

Carefully.

As I cautiously parted the bushes and inspected the site,

"Huh?"

I saw it.

"Keruk… Keuk…"

A little creature lying there, injured… Wait, what?! It was not a little creature at all?! What was lying there was some damn bulky, green-skinned, non-human dwarf!

And it had the face of an old man!!!

With a witch-like hooked nose!!!!!

"It's, it's a Goblin!"

I couldn't think of anything else!

It looked something like that!